History 


OF 


Mary  Baldwin  Seminary 

(Originally  Augusta  Female  Seminary) 

From  1842  to  19O5  Inclusive 


COMPILED  BY 

JOSEPH    A.  WADDELL 

By  Request  of  Board  of  Trustees 


1905 


AUGUSTA  PRINTING  CORPORATION 

STAUNTON,  VIRGINIA, 
1908 


PREFACE. 

The  following  historical  sketch  of  the  Mary  Baldwin 
Seminary  was  prepared  by  the  HON.  JOSEPH  ADDISON  WAD- 
DELI,,  LL.  D.,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
He  had  been  identified  with  the  school  to  such  extent  that  no 
account  of  it  would  be  complete  without  the  mention  of  him- 
self in  a  way  which  his  natural  feeling  of  delicacy  makes  im- 
possible. The  Board  has  therefore  appointed  the  undersigned 
committee  to  prepare  this  preface,  expressing  its  grateful 
appreciation  of  his  services  and  devotion. 

About  the  year  1855  when  Dr.  Waddell's  father,  Dr. 
Addison  Waddell,  died,  he  was  elected  to  succeed  him  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  soon  after  was  made 
clerk  of  the  Board,  having  held  that  office  ever  since,  a  period 
of  fully  fifty  years.  Throughout  all  this  time  he  has  been 
the  Seminary's  best  friend,  serving  it  with  an  affectionate  de- 
votion, only  less  than  that  he  has  given  his  home  and  his 
church,  bestowing  upon  it  freely  his  time  and  thought  and 
ever  ready  to  help  it  with  his  means  when  there  was  need 
for  it.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  nothing  of  importance  has  ever 
been  undertaken  without  consulting  him,  few  things  have 
been  done  without  his  approval,  and  many  things  upon  his 
suggestion. 

At  the  most  critical  time  in  the  history  of  the  school  it 
was  his  sagacious  suggestion  that  saved  it  from  extinction  and 
resulted  in  its  establishment  upon  a  secure  and  permanent 
basis.  This  was  in  the  year  1863,  when  the  crisis  of  the  war 
was  approaching,  when  in  the  South  industries  were  paralyzed 
and  energies  prostrated  and  hope  was  beginning  to  falter, 
that  there  was  serious  danger  of  having  to  close  the  Semi- 
nary. It  was  Dr.  Waddell  who  then  suggested  that  Miss 
McClung  and  Miss  Baldwin  be  asked  to  take  charge  of 
the  institution  and  succeeded  in  persuading  them  to  under- 
take it.  Miss  McClung  had  had  experience  in  the  department 
she  was  to  assume  and  was  well  known,  but  the  credit  was 
due  to  him  of  seeing  in  Miss  Baldwin,  whose  experience  and 


M129889 


acquaintance  were  both  limited,  something  of  the  gifts  that 
qualified  her  for  her  place  and  that  afterwards  made  her  fa- 
mous. It  is  true  he  did  not  at  that  time  suspect  the  extent 
and  scope  of  her  abilities,  and  that  he  mistook  for  a  high  de- 
gree of  talent  what  proved  to  be  no  mean  order  of  genius,  yet 
he  it  is  to  whom  we  owe  in  this  way  the  great  opportunity 
which  came  to  Miss  Baldwin  and  the  great  career  which  fol- 
lowed. From  that  time  on  he  became  the  most  intimate  and 
trusted  adviser  of  the  two  distinguished  Principals  and  their 
successor.  They  did  not  always  follow  his  counsel  in  a  slavish 
manner,  yet  they  always  respected  and  used  it  in  forming 
their  own  opinions,  so  that  his  judgment  has  been  a  guiding 
influence  in  the  moulding  of  the  school.  He  could  not  always 
restrain  what  he  thought  at  the  time  was  their  too  daring  en- 
terprise. His  watchfulness  and  his  knowledge  of  affairs  saved 
them  from  legal  complications;  his  strong  words  sustained 
their  courage  and  at  critical  moments  in  the  administration 
and  discipline  of  the  school  when  a  more  masculine  decision 
was  needed,  he  has  spared  them  pain  and  difficulty  by  assum- 
ing disagreeable  responsibilities. 

He  has  rendered  these  services  without  remuneration  of 
any  sort.  He  has  ever  regarded  his  proteges  and  their  great 
school  with  a  tender  and  ardent  love,  without  jealousy  of  the 
one  or  inordinate  pride  in  the  other.  Everything  connected 
with  the  Seminary,  its  buildings,  its  grounds,  its  administra- 
tive policies,  its  courses  of  study,  its  school  spirit  all  bear  the 
impress  of  his  warm  heart  and  sound  judgment. 

At  this  day  after  more  than  a  half  century  of  service  his 
bow  abides  in  its  strength  and  there  is  no  one  whose  wishes 
are  more  consulted  and  whose  opinion  is  more  sought  in  the 
conduct  of  the  school. 

G.  W.  FINLEY, 
A.  M.  FRASER, 

Committee. 


Histor?  of  flDar?  Baldwin  Seminar? 

Untrotwctors 

For  some  years  early  in  the  last  century  (19th)  a 
succession  of  schools  for  girls  were  conducted  in  Staunton 
by  different  teachers,  who  were  intimately  associated  with 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  first  of  these  remembered 
by  me  dimly,  was  conducted  by  a  Mr.  Easterbrook,  a 
native  of  New  England.  I  was  a  very  young  child  at  the 
time,  and  my  recollection  of  the  period  is  slight;  but  I  re- 
member that  Mr.  Easterbrook  lived  and  had  his  school  in 
the  house  now  called  "Hill  Top,"  one  of  the  Mary  Baldwin 
Seminary  buildings.  How  long  Mr.  Easterbrook  resided 
here  I  do  not  know.  On  leaving  Staunton,  he  removed 
to  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  My  impression  is  that  he  was 
much  esteemed  by  the  Presbyterians  of  Staunton  and 
citizens  generally. 

The  next  Principal  of  a  school  of  this  sort  was  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Thatcher,  also  a  native  of  New  England.  For 
several  years  he  lived  and  conducted  his  school  in  a  large 
frame  house  which  stood  at  the  north-east  corner  of 
Beverley  street  and  Central  Avenue,  where  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
building  now  stands.  After  teaching  girls  for  a  time,  he 
became  Principal  of  the  Boys'  Academy,  on  North  New 
street,  and  held  the  position  for  a  year  or  two.  He  fre- 
quently preached  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
when  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  was  absent.  I 
do  not  remember,  and  have  no  means  of  ascertaining,  how 
long  he  resided  in  Staunton,  and  where  he  went  when  he 
left  here. 

The  next  school  for  girls  in  Staunton,  under  Presby- 
terian auspices,  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Robert  L.  Cooke,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  came  here  immediately  from 
Princeton,  New  Jersey.  His  school  was  held,  for  a  part 
of  his  time  at  least,  in  a  house  which  lately  stood  on  the 
west  side  of  North  New  street,  the  second  house  from 


[5] 


Frederick  street,  and  familiarly  known  as  the  '  'Old  Black- 
burn House."  I  cannot  recall  the  date  of  his  departure 
from  Staunton.  He  returned  to  the  North,  and  from  the 
date  of  his  departure  till  the  year  1842,  there  was  no 
school  for  girls  in  Staunton  specially  patronized  by  Presby- 
terians. 

All  the  three  schools  just  mentioned  were  private 
institutions,  there  being  no  incorporation  or  formal  organi- 
zation in  charge  of  them,  and  each  of  the  principals 
rented  the  premises  occupied  by  them. 


[6] 


1* 

jfounbation  of  tbe  Seminary  an&  H&ministra* 
tion  of  flDr,  Bailey 

N  the  summer  of  1842,  the  Rev.  Rufus  W. 
Bailey  came  to  Staunton,  in  search  of  a  place 
for  the  location  of  a  female  school,  so  called. 
What  directed  him  to  Staunton  I  do  not  know. 
Mr.  Bailey  was  a  native  of  the  State  of 
Maine,  but  had  lived  for  many  years  in  South 
Carolina,  where  he  was  engaged  in  education- 
al work.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  ability,  and  could  not 
have  resided  anywhere  without  being  felt  as  a  power  in  a 
community.  He  sought  the  acquaintance  of  Presbyterian 
ministers  and  people,  and  suggested  the  establishment  here 
of  a  seminary  of  high  grade  for  the  education  of  girls  and 
young  women,  distinctively  under  Presbyterian  control. 
The  suggestion  was  cordially  received.  A  number  of 
ministers  and  other  gentlemen  met  from  time  to  time  to 
confer  in  reference  to  the  matter,  and  after  much  con- 
sideration, in  August,  1842,  a  "Plan  or  Constitution  of  the 
Augusta  Female  Seminary  was  adopted  and  signed  by  the 
persons  present,  as  follows  : 

I.    OBJECT  OF  THE  SEMINARY. 
The  founders  of  this  Institution  design  it  to  afford 
the  means  of  a  thorough  literary  and  Christian  education 
to  the  female  youth  of  this  portion  of  our  country. 

II.    TRUSTEES. 

1.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Trustees  consisting  of 
15  members,  viz  :  Rev.  F.  McFarland,  D.  D. ,  Col.  James 
Crawford,  Rev.  Wm.  Brown,  Adam  Link,  Esq.,  John 
McCue,  Esq.,  Rev.  P.  E.  Stevenson,  Dr.  A.  Waddell,  Rev. 
S.  J.  Love,  Jacob  Baylor,  Esq.,  Maj.  John  Marshall  Mc- 
Cue, Wm.  Frazier,  Esq.,  A.  S.  Hall,  Esq.,  Wm.  M.  Tate, 
Esq.,  James  A.  Cochran,  Esq.  and  Rev.  B.  M.  Smith. 

[7] 


2.  To  the  trustees  shall  pertain  the  duty  of  managing 
the  funds    and  property  of  the    Seminary,  and  by  all 
proper  means  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Institution. 

3.  The  trustees  shall  elect  their  own  officers,  make 
their  by-laws,  and  fill  vacancies  in  their  own  way. 

4.  The  Board   shall  meet  at  least  once  annually,  and 
oftener  on  their  adjournment.     One-third  shall  constitute 
a  quorum,  except  on  the  occasion  of  electing  a  Principal, 
when  it  shall  require  four-fifths  of  the  whole  number, 
and  of  electing  a  trustee,  when  it  shall  require  a  majority. 

III.  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL. 

1.  To  the  Principal  shall  be  assigned  the  regulation 
of  the  studies  and  classes  of  the  Seminary  and  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  pupils,  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the 
Board. 

At  as  early  a  period  as  practicable  after  entering  on 
the  duties  of  his  office,  he  shall  lay  before  the  Board  a 
scheme  of  instructions,  together  with  a  list  of  such  text- 
books in  the  various  departments  as  he  may  deem  proper. 

IV.     OF  THE  INSTRUCTORS. 

The  Principal  may  employ  temporary  aid  in  the  Insti- 
tution at  his  own  charges  for  any  time  less  than  one 
scholastic  year,  the  same  person  not  being  eligible  for  two 
consecutive  years;  but  all  permanent  instructors  shall  be 
elected  by  the  trustees,  and  shall  be  required  to  conform 
to  such  regulations  as  the  Principal,  under  sanction  of  the 
Board,  may  prescribe. 

V.    TERM  OF  OFFICE. 

The  Principal  and  Instructors  shall  be  elected  without 
condition  of  time.  Should  any  of  them  desire  to  leave 
the  Institution,  or  should  the  Board  decide  that  the  in- 
terests of  the  Institution  require  such  a  procedure,  five 
months  previous  notice  should  be  given  in  either  case, 
unless  the  party  notified  should  remit  the  obligation,  and 
provided  always  that  the  cause  of  (sentence  not  completed. ) 

[8] 


VI.    PUPILS. 

1.  Every  pupil  applying  for  admission  to  the  Semi- 
nary shall  submit  to  an  examination  on  literary  attain- 
ments by  the  Principal,   or  one  of  the  Instructors    (in 
presence  of  any  member  or  members  of  the  Board,  should 
such  attend.) 

2.  The  Pupils  are  expected  to  conduct  themselves 
with  propriety  within  and  out  of  school,  subject  to  such 
regulations  as  the  Principal  may  prescribe. 

VII.    COURSE  OF  STUDIES. 

The  Principal,  as  heretofore  provided,  shall  designate 
the  course  of  studies  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the 
Board.  But  it  is  hereby  especially  stipulated  that  such 
courses  shall  always  contemplate  a  daily  recitation  by  all 
the  pupils  able  to  read,  of  a  portion  of  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures. 

VIII.    ADMENDMENTS. 

Amendments  may  be  made  in  this  plan  by  a  vote  of 
three-fourths  of  the  whole  number  of  Trustees. 

Signed  by  12  of  the  Trustees  named  in  the  2nd 
article,  these  members  apparently  being  absent  at  the  time, 
viz  :  Col.  James  Crawford,  Rev.  S.  J.  Love,  and  James 
A.  Cochran,  Esq. 

Dr.  McFarland  was  pastor  of  Bethel  church,  Wm. 
Brown,  pastor  of  Augusta  Church,  Mr.  Stevenson,  pastor 
of  Staunton  church,  Mr.  Love,  pastor  of  Hebron  church, 
and  Mr.  Smith,  pastor  of  Tinkling  Spring  and  Waynes- 
boro  churches. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hendren,  pastor  of  Union  church, 
sometime  afterwards  became  a  member  of  the  Board. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  September,  1842,  the  Board  of 
Trustees  organized  by  the  election  of  the  following  offi- 
cers : 

REV.  FRANCIS  MCFARLAND,  D.  D.,  President, 
COL.  JAMES  CRAWFORD,    Vice  President, 
WILLIAM  FRAZIER,  Secretary, 
ALEXANDER  S.  HALL,  Treasurer. 

[9] 


Mr.  Bailey  was  elected  Principal,  with  his  wife  as  as- 
sistant. He  submitted  to  the  Board  a  scheme  of  instruc- 
tions and  a  list  of  text-books. 

A  body  of  by-laws  having  been  adopted,  in  accordance 
with  the  7th,  the  Board  was  divided  into  five  classes  or 
committees  of  three  members,  each  consisting  of  one 
clergyman  and  two  laymen,  to  visit  the  school  monthly 
and  be  present  at  the  usual  daily  exercises. 

An  address  to  the  people  of  Augusta  County,  setting 
forth  the  principles  upon  which  the  school  was  based  and 
to  be  conducted,  was  reported  by  a  committee  of  which 
the  Rev.  B.  M.  Smith  was  the  chairman,  was  adopted  and 
ordered  to  be  published. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Frazier  a  committee  of  five  was  ap- 
pointed to  procure  a  site  on  which  to  build  a  suitable  edi- 
fice for  the  Seminary,  viz :  James  A.  Cochran,  Dr.  A. 
Waddell,  Wm.  M.  Tate,  Wm.  Frazier  and  Adam  Link. 
Only  a  school  house  was  contemplated. 

Mr.  Bailey  had,  by  invitation,  attended  all  the  meet- 
ings mentioned  and  participated  in  the  proceedings. 

The  school  was  opened  during  the  fall  of  1842,  and 
was  conducted  for  some  months  in  the  upper  rooms  of  a 
frame  house,  which  stood  at  the  south-west  corner  of 
New  street  and  Court-house  Alley,  where  the  Eakleton 
Hotel  now  stands,  the  lower  floor  of  the  house  being  used 
as  a  Cabinet-maker's  shop.  It  was  soon  removed,  how- 
ever, to  the  large  frame  house  on  the  north  side  of  Green- 
ville Avenue  near  the  present  Gas  Works,  which  is  still 
standing.  Mr.  William  Craig  was  tenant  of  the  house, 
and  furnished  one  or  more  rooms  for  the  school.  He  also 
furnished  board  to  sundry  pupils  from  the  country. 

The  number  of  pupils  and  general  success  of  the 
school  were  satisfactory  to  the  Principal  and  Trustees. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  Friday,  July  16,  1843, 
a  communication  was  received  from  Mr.  Bailey,  and  by 
request  he  appeared  and  made  statements  in  response  to 

[10] 


the  successful  operation  of  the  school  during  the  previous 
year. 

On  motion,  Messrs.  Hall,  Waddell,  Crawford,  Cochran 
and  Link  were  appointed  a  Financial  Committee  to  make 
inquiries  concerning  the  whole  subject  of  the  future  loca- 
tion and  management  of  the  Seminary. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
agreeably  to  the  constitution,  was  held  Friday,  July  14, 
1843. 

The  Financial  Committee  appointed  on  June  16,  made 
a  report  which  was  adopted,  in  substance  as  follows  : 

1.  That  the  Board  proceed  to  devise  the  ways  and 
means  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  Seminary  building, 
and  that  subscription  papers  be  immediately  opened  on 
the  basis  that  no  subscription  should  be  considered  bind- 
•ing  until  the  sum  of  $2500  should  be  subscribed. 

2.  That  the  building  be  erected  on  the  lot  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Staunton,  on  such  terms  as  might 
be  agreed  upon  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary  and  the 
Trustees  of  the  church. 

3.  That  for  the  next  scholastic  year  the  Seminary 
should  continue  where  it  then  was,   upon    Mr.  Craig's 
furnishing  an  additional  room,  &c. 

4.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  contract  for 
the  materials  and  making  of  suitable  furniture  for  the 
school. 

5.  That  the  sum  of  $50  for  the  rent  of  the  next 
year  be  met  by  a  pro-rata  charge  upon  the  pupils,  and 
that  the  cost  of  new  furniture  be  defrayed  out  of  such 
subscriptions  as  might  be  obtained  for  the  general  object 
of  building. 

6.  That  a  committee  be  appointed    to  solicit  from 
the  patrons  of  the  school  contributions  to  make  up  the 
sum  of  $38  due  on  last  year's  rent. 

James  A.  Cochran,  Dr.  A.  Waddell  and  Alexander  S. 
Hall  were  appointed  a  committee  for  opening  subscriptions 
and  for  the  general  supervision  of  the  business  of  sub- 
scriptions. 

cm 


John  McCue,  Wm.  M.  Tate  and  Rev.  B.  M.  Smith 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  Trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  on  the  subject  contained  in 
the  2nd  of  the  foregoing  resolutions. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Smith,  Stevenson  and  Brown  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  adopt  and  publish  an  expression 
of  the  Board  as  to  the  past  operations  of  the  Seminary, 
and  its  arrangement  and  prospect  for  the  future. 

It  will  be  observed  that  no  provision  was  made  by  the 
Trustees  for  boarding  pupils  from  abroad,  but  parents  or 
guardians  of  such  pupils  were  left  to  obtain  accommoda- 
tions in  private  families  of  the  town.  Mr.  Wm.  Craig, 
the  tenant  of  the  house  in  which  the  school  was  held, 
furnished  board  to  a  number  of  non-resident  pupils. 

The  church  lot  on  which  it  was  proposed  to  erect  a 
Seminary  building,  was  the  ground  between  the  church 
and  New  street.  This  ground  was  originally  and  for 
many  years  a  most  unsightly  spot,  being  used  as  a  brick- 
yard. Having  been  purchased  by  the  congregation,  it 
was  enclosed,  graded  and  planted  with  trees.  The  deed  of 
conveyance  to  the  trustees  of  the  church  is  dated  May  13, 
1841,  (in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  County  Court,  Deed 
Book  62,  page  84)  but  the  ground  was  purchased  and  im- 
proved several  years  before  that  date. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  met  again  at  the  Seminary, 
Tuesday,  September  5,  1843. 

At  this  meeting,  a  memorandum  of  the  agreement 
proposed  by  the  committee  of  the  Seminary  to  the  Trustees 
of  the  church,  together  with  the  attested  minutes  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  church  trustees  sanctioning  and  ac- 
cepting the  same,  was  reported  and  approved.  The  agree- 
ment stipulated  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary  should 
erect,  on  the  lot  of  ground  belonging  to  the  congregation, 
on  which  their  house  of  worship  stands,  a  brick  building 
not  less  than  30  by  50  feet,  two  stories  high  and  suitable 
for  the  purposes  of  the  Seminary,  one  room  in  the  build- 
ing to  be  used  for  such  purposes  as  the  church  authori- 

[12] 


ties  might  assign,  not  inconsistent  with  the  main  purpose 
of  the  building;  provided  always  that  the  pastor  and 
other  officers  of  the  church  shall  be  in  full  communion 
with  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States  known 
as  the  "Old  School  Presbyterian  Church. "  And  the 
Trustees  of  the  church  guarantee  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
Seminary  possession  in  perpetuity  of  the  said  building, 
with  the  exception  of  the  one  room;  provided  always  that 
the  Seminary  shall  be  managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustee  of 
which  three-fourths  shall  be  ministers  or  members  of  the 
Old  School  Presbyterian  church.  It  was  further  agreed 
that  a  formal  contract  on  the  part  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
church  should  be  executed  as  soon  as  the  Trustees  of  the 
Seminary  should  be  incorporated  by  act  of  the  Legislature. 

A  building  committee,  with  discretionary  powers 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Dr.  A.  Waddell,  A.  S.  Hall, 
J.  A.  Cochran,  A.  Link  and  Wm.  Frazier. 

At  a  meeting  of  Trustees,  October  18,  1843,  pledges 
were  mutually  given  by  several  gentlemen  present,  as 
well  for  themselves  as  on  behalf  of  others  not  present, 
that  they  would  enter  into  a  contract  to  become  personally 
responsible  for  the  sum  requisite  to  erect  the  Seminary 
building. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  first  Seminary  building  was 
laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  June  15,  1844.  A 
copper  plate  inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  trustees, 
officers  and  pupils,  &c. ,  was  deposited  in  the  stone,  and 
also  a  copy  of  the  Bible  enclosed  in  oil  silk,  with  the  su- 
perscription :  "The  only  Rule  of  Faith  and  first  text-book 
of  the  Augusta  Female  Seminary. "  After  this  the  Rev. 
B.  M.  Smith  delivered  an  address,  which  was  published. 
The  stone,  under  the  direction  of  the  President  of  the 
Board,  was  then  set  in  its  place  by  the  operative  masons. 

June  28,  1844,  was  the  last  day  of  the  second  scholas- 
tic year,  and  a  large  number  of  spectators,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  attended  the  examinations  and  other  exercises 
of  the  school,  which  began  on  the  morning  of  Thursday 

[13] 


the  27th,  and  was  continued  through  the  following  day. 

Mr.  Bailey  issued  at  this  time  a  small  pamphlet  con- 
taining the  names  of  officers  and  pupils  of  the  Seminary, 
&c. ,  and  the  address  of  Mr.  Smith  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner  stone.  Only  one  copy  of  the  pamphlet  survives  at 
this  day.  The  number  of  pupils  during  the  second  year 
was  only  60  (sixty)  and  among  them  was  Mary  Julia  Bald- 
win. 

Pupils  of  the  Augusta  Female  Seminary,  during  its 
first  year,  1843-4. 


Mary  A.  Ast, 
*Mary  C.Baylor, 
^Catharine  J.  Baylor, 
*Maragret  S.  Bell, 
*Sarah  A.  Bell, 
Selina  M.  Bagly, 
Mildred  A.  Bagly, 
*Jane  A.  Bare, 
Mary  J.  Baldwin, 
*Sarah  J.  Crawford, 
*Francis  M.  Crawford, 
Susan  V.  Crawford, 
Susie  M.  M.  Clarke, 
Margaret  C.  Calvert, 
Annie  R.  Cooper, 
Francis  A.  Carrol, 
*Rachel  M.  Christian, 
*Susan  F.  Craig, 
*Sarah  H.  Douglass, 
*  Amanda  E.  McCue, 
*Virginia  C.  Dupuy, 
Margaret  A.  Fultz, 
Amanda  C.  Fultz, 
Elizabeth  E.  Fuller, 
Lucy  A.  M.  Grove, 
Augusta  V.  Grove, 
Julia  F.  Grove, 
Elizabeth  E.  Goodsby, 
Caroline  Hall, 


*Christinia  V.  Harnsberger, 
*Rebecca  A.  Ingles, 
Harriet  A.  T.  Kyle, 
Elizabeth  V.  Lyle, 
Martha  A.  Lyle, 
*Emily  S.  Link, 
*Nanny  E.  L.  Montgomery, 
*Martha  J.  McCue, 
*Sarah  J.  McCue, 
Sommerville  N.  May, 
Mary  J.  May, 
Eliza  J.  McCoy, 
Catharine  S.  Parry, 
Susan  F.  Ruff, 
Margaret  S.  Parrent, 
*Emeline  L.  Sproul, 
^Caroline  A.  Sieg, 
^Catharine  H.  Sieg, 
*Mary  J.  Sterrett, 
*Susan  Thompson, 
*Mary  M.  Trimble, 
Margaret  E.  R.  Tapp, 
*SarahF.  G.  Taylor, 
*  Juliet  C.  B.  Taylor, 
Catharine  S.  Waddell, 
*Martha  M.  Waddell, 
Susan  McC.   Willson 
Mary  A.  Warden. 


Names  of  pupils  not  living  in  town  are  marked  thus  ( 


[14] 


At  a  meeting  of  Trustees  on  Monday,  July  22,  1844, 
David  Fultz,  Esq.,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board, 
in  place  of  the  Rev.  P.  E.  Stevenson,  who  had  removed 
from  the  state. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  McFarland,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Brown  and 
John  McCue,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare and  publish  in  the  "  Watchman  of  the  South"  "an 
expression  of  the  principles  and  plan  upon  which  the 
school  is  founded  and  conducted. " 

As  far  as  the  record  of  proceedings  show,  there  was 
no  meeting  of  the  trustees  from  July  22,  1844,  till  the 
year  1846.  In  the  meanwhile  the  Seminary  building  was 
erected  and  delivered  to  the  Trustees  and  by  them  to  the 
Principal,  Rev.  R.  W.  Bailey.  This  was  the  central 
building  with  the  portico  and  columns  in  front.  The 
large  room  on  the  lower  floor  was  set  apart  for  the  use  of 
the  Presbyterian  congregation,  and  was  occupied  for 
several  years  as  a  Lecture  Room.  Above  that,  in  the 
second  story,  was  the  main  school  room.  Several  smaller 
rooms  in  both  stories  were  used  by  the  Principal  for 
various  purposes. 

On  January  30,  1845,  the  Legislature  of  Virginia 
passed  an  act  incorporating  Augusta  Female  Seminary. 

The  act  provided  for  a  Board  of  Trustees  consistng 
of  fifteen  members,  self -perpetuating,  with  the  privilege 
of  increasing  the  number  to  twenty.  It  presented  that 
lands,  goods  and  chattels  held  by  the  Seminary  should 
not  exceed  in  value  the  sum  of  $30,000.  Five  Trustees 
were  constituted  a  quorum  to  transact  ordinary  business; 
but  a  majority  was  required  to  elect  officers  and  teachers, 
and  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  Board  caused  by  death,  resigna- 
tion or  removal. 

The  Trustees  named  in  the  act  were  ;  1.  Francis 
McFarland.  2.  James  Crawford.  3.  William  Brown.  4. 
Adam  Link.  5.  John  McCue.  6.  David  Fultz.  7.  Addi- 
son  Waddell.  8.  Solomon  J.  Love.  9.  J.  Marshall  McCue, 
10.  William  Frazier.  11.  Alexander  S.  Hall.  12.  William 

[15] 


M.   Tate.     13.    James    A.    Cochran.     14.  Benjamin    M. 
Smith. 

The  name  of  Jacob  Baylor,  the  15th  member,  having 
been  omitted,  accidentally,  in  the  act  as  printed,  he  was 
afterwards  formally  elected  a  member  of  the  Board.  The 
number  of  members  was  never  increased  to  20,  or  beyond 
15. 

The  Trustees  met  again  in  1846,  the  month  and  day 
being  strangely  omitted  in  the  the  record  and  proceedings, 
but  it  was  probably  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  1845-6. 

The  Secretary  having  read  the  act  of  incorporation 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  it  was  unani- 
mously accepted,  and  the  Board  organized  de  vora  under 
the  charter,  by  the  election  of  officers,  as  follows: 

REV.  FRANCIS  MCFARLAND,   D.  D.,  President, 
REV.  JOHN  HENDREN,   D.  D.,    Vice  President, 
WILLIAM  FRAZIER,  Secretary, 
ALEXANDER  S.  HALL,  Treasurer. 

The  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Bailey  and  Wm.  Bailey  were 
elected  Principals. 

The  Principal  presented  an  account  showing  the  sums 
collected  by  him  during  the  past  four  sessions,  for  inci- 
dental expenses,  the  sum  of  50  cents  being  required  of 
each  pupil.  The  total  amount  was  $134,  out  of  which  the 
rent  due  to  Mr.  Craig  and  other  expenses  were  paid.  It 
appeared  incidentally  that  the  average  number  of  pupils 
during  those  years  was  66. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  authorized  to  fit  up  the  basement 
underneath  the  parlor,  and  to  make  other  improvements, 
chargeable  to  the  contingent  fund. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  the  purpose  of 
formally  ratifying  the  contract  previously  entered  into 
with  them  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary.  Of  this, 
however,  we  hear  nothing  more.  The  contract  was  not 
formally  ratified,  and  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary 
having  no  legal  title,  were  practically  "squatters"  on  the 

[16] 


domain  of  the  church  (!)  The  Seminary,  as  a  corporation, 
at  this  time  and  for  many  years,  owned  no  property  what- 
ever, except  a  few  articles  of  cheap  furniture. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted,  expressing  the  high  sense  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
qualifications  of  the  Principal  as  a  teacher,  and  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the  responsible  and 
onerous  duties  of  his  office. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board,  December  26,  1847, 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  and  publish  an  ad- 
dress setting  forth  the  views  and  opinions  of  the  Trustees 
in  regard  to  the  conduct  and  present  condition  of  the 
school. 

The  members  of  the  Board  were  classified  in  com- 
mittees to  attend  monthly  examinations  of  the  pupils. 

Wm.  Frazier,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  deliver  an  address 
to  the  pupils  on  the  last  Friday  in  January,  1848. 

On  June  28,  1848,  a  committee  previously  appointed 
to  revise  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  made  a  report  which 
was  adopted.  The  existing  "constitution"  having  been 
superseded  by  the  charter,  its  various  provisions  were  de- 
clared to  be  operative  as  by-laws  as  far  as  consistent  with 
the  charter.  The  Board  of  Trustees  was  made  to  consist 
of  not  more  than  twenty  members  instead  of  fifteen.  It 
was  further  provided  that  any  Trustee  failing  to  attend 
the  meetings  of  the  Board  without  sufficient  excuse,  shall 
be  considered  as  having  forfeited  his  seat. 

The  following  Regulations  were  adopted  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Board,  August  2,  1848; 

1.  Pupils  of  the  Seminary  shall  be  carefully  instruct- 
ed in  the  principles  of  Christian  truths.  For  this  purpose 
the  whole  school  shall  be  assembled  in  the  school  room 
every  Sabbath  morning,  at  a  suitable  hour,  for  reciting  to 
the  Principal  and  other  teachers  such  lessons  in  the  Scrip- 
tures and  in  the  catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian  church  as 
the  Principal  shall  appoint  This  time  shall  be  so  arranged 
that  the  pupils  may  all  proceed  from  the  school  room  to 

[17] 


the  church  where  they  shall  be  expected  to  attend  with 
appropriate  deportment  on  the  sermon.  From  the  obliga- 
tions of  this  Regulation,  or  any  part  of  it,  no  pupil  shall 
be  exempt  except  by  personal  or  written  request  of  the 
parent  or  guardian. 

2.  All  visiting  or  receiving  visits  by  the  pupils  is  pro- 
hibited, except  within  the  period  from  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  session  of  school  till  sun  down,  and  on  Friday 
till  10  o'clock,  P.  M.,  with  the  whole  afternoon  of  Satur- 
day. 

3.  No  pupil  shall  pay  a  visit  in  town  or  shall  leave 
town,  except  when  sent  for  by  her  parents,  or  on  permis- 
sion granted  by  the  Principal  or  the  persons  with  whom 
she  boards. 

4.  No  visiting  or  attentions  to  the  pupils  by  young 
persons  of  the  other  sex  shall  be  allowed,  except  in  the 
presence  of  the  head  of  the  family  in  which  she  boards, 
or  some  authorized  substitute. 

5.  The  Principal  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  en- 
forcing these  Regulations. 

6.  A  copy  of  these  Regulations  shall  be  furnished  to 
all  persons  proposing  to  take  pupils  of  the  Seminary  as 
boarders. 

The  Principal  was  permitted  to  associate  with  the  Rev. 
S.  Matthews  in  his  management  of  the  Seminary,  if 
found  desirable  and  practicable. 

A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  was  held  in  January,  1849, 
at  which  Mr.  Bailey  tendered  his  resignation  as  Princi- 
pal of  the  Seminary.  His  resignation  was  accepted,  and 
a  resolution  was  adopted  expressing  the  high  appreciation 
by  the  Trustees  of  the  long  and  valued  services  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bailey  in  the  cause  of  female  education,  in  con- 
nection with  the  Seminary,  and  the  assurance  that  they 
would  carry  with  them  the  cordial  wishes  of  the  Board 
for  their  personal  happiness  and  prosperity. 

Whether  the  resigination  of  Mr.  Bailey  took  effect 
at  the  close  of  the  half  session,  January  31, 1849,  or  the 

[18] 


end  of  the  full  annual  session,  in  June,  1849,  does  not  dis- 
stinctly  appear  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Trustees. 
Probably  it  took  effect  on  January  31st,  as  a  committee  of 
the  Board  was  appointed  at  this  meeting  to  provide  for 
instruction  in  the  department  of  music  for  the  next  session 
of  five  months. 

There  are  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  average  num- 
ber of  pupils  each  year  during  Mr.  Bailey's  administration 
as  Principal;  but  it  rarely,  if  ever,  reached  the  number  of 
70.  Yet  the  success  of  the  school  met  the  expectations  of 
its  patrons.  Several  accomplished  assistant  teachers  were 
engaged  by  Mr.  Bailey  during  his  term  of  service. 

After  resigning  his  connection  with  the  Seminary, 
Mr.  Bailey  acted  as  agent  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society,  for  some  years,  residing  in  Staunton,  and  vicinity. 
He  finally  died  in  Texas.  His  portrait  is  suspended  in  the 
parlor  of  the  Seminary. 


[19] 


II 

H&mfnfstrationof  IRev,  Samuel  mattbews,  IRev, 
Mm.  <B*  Campbell,  IRev,  mm.  B.  Browne, 
flOr.  William  fit  flDarquiss  ant>  flDr. 
3obn  3B. 


T  the  meeting  in  January,  1849,  after  Mr. 
Bailey's  resignation,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Matthews 
was  elected  Principal  of  the  Seminary;  but 
whether  he  entered  upon  his  duties  the  first  of 
February,  or  at  the  beginning  of  the  next 
session,  the  record  does  not  show. 
Mr.  Matthews  soon  became  discouraged,  and  in 
December  following  his  election,  addressed  a  note  to  the 
Board  '  'unconditionally  resigning  the  situation  of  Princi- 
pal," to  take  effect  at  the  end  of  the  scholastic  year,  June, 
1850. 

The  resignation  was  accepted  at  a  meeting  held 
December  25,  1849,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
procure  a  successor.  From  what  place  Mr.  Matthews 
came  and  to  what  place  he  went,  I  cannot  learn. 

Mr.  Alexander  S.  Hall,  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  and  Treasurer  of  the  Seminary,  having  de- 
parted this  life,  Mr.  Davis  A.  Kayser  was  appointed 
Treasurer,  at  a  meeting  held  April  10,  1850. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  Rev.  B.  M.  Smith  from  the 
committee  of  correspondence,  on  the  subject  of  procuring 
a  Principal  to  take  charge  of  the  Seminary  at  the  close  of 
Mr.  Matthews'  term,  made  a  report  consisting  of  various 
letters  and  testimonials  from  different  gentlemen  with 
whom  the  committee  had  corresponded. 

The  Board  declined  to  elect  a  Principal  at  that  time, 
and  instructed  the  Secretary  to  advertise  in  the  Philadel- 

[21] 


phia  ' 'Presbyterian"  and  the  "National  Intelligence"  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  that  an  election  would  be  made  on 
Monday,  May  20th,  next. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  ex- 
pediency of  raising  a  fund  to  procure  a  chemical  and 
philosophical  apparatus  for  the  Seminary. 

The  Board  met  again  May  20,  1850,  and  the  Secretary 
reported  that  letters  had  been  received  from  seven  gentle- 
men applying  for  the  position  of  Principal,  viz :  1  from 
Maine,  2  from  New  York,  1  from  Pennsylvania,  2  from 
Maryland,  and  1  from  North  Carolina. 

None  of  these  gentlemen  were  put  in  nomination,  and 
the  Board  proceeding  to  elect,  Mr.  John  L.  Campbell, 
of  Richmond,  Kentucky,  (afterwards  for  many  years  a 
Professor  in  Washington  College  and  Washington  &  Lee 
University,  Lexington  Virginia)  was  nominated  and 
unanimously  elected  Principal  of  the  Seminary. 

On  June  14,  1850,  at  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board, 
the  Rev.  B.  M.  Smith  reported  that  Mr.  J.  L.  Campbell 
had  declined  the  appointment  tendered  to  him. 

Whereupon,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hendren  nominated  the 
Rev.  Wm.  G.  Campbell,  pastor  of  Shemariah  church, 
Augusta  County,  for  the  office  of  Principal,  and  he  was 
unanimously  elected. 

Mr.  Campbell  took  charge  of  the  Seminary  on  the 
1st  of  September,  1850.  But  on  the  27th  of  January 
following,  he  was  released,  at  his  request  from  the  office 
of  Principal,  to  take  effect  on  the  31st  of  the  same  month, 
January,  1851. 

As  far  as  appears  there  was  "no  school"  during  the 
remainder  of  the  scholastic  year. 

The  Rev.  William  B.  Browne,  of  Hillsboro,  North 
Carolina,  was  elected  Principal,  on  May  26,  1851,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in  the  following 
September.  During  his  term  the  school  was  moderately 
successful. 

On  April  7,  1852,  the  Board  resolved  that  it  was  de- 

[22] 


sirable  to  provide  a  suitable  residence  for  the  Principal, 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  open  subscription  books 
for  necessary  means.  Another  committee  was  appointed 
to  secure  a  suitable  site  for  the  proposed  building.  For 
a  time  it  was  proposed  to  erect  the  new  building  on  a  lot 
to  be  procured  for  the  purpose;  but  finally  it  was  deter- 
mined to  add  to  the  school  house  already  built,  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Presbyterian  church  having  consented 
thereto. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  the  commit- 
tee on  subscriptions  reported  that  the  sum  of  $1400  had 
been  secured. 

On  January  3,  1853,  the  Board  authorized  a  Building 
committee  to  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  addition  to 
the  Seminary,  according  to  the  plan  that  day  reported, 
when  satisfied  that  reliable  subscriptions  within  $500  of 
the  estimate  cost  had  been  secured.  On  the  28th  of 
September,  of  the  same  year,  the  restriction  imposed  on 
the  Building  committee  as  to  expenditures  was  removed. 
That  is,  the  Committee  was  authorized  to  proceed,  in  the 
expectation  of  obtaining  the  necessary  amount  of  money 
by  general  contributions. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  held  various  meetings  after 
September  28,  1853,  and  before  July  4,  1857,  but  the 
record  of  proceedings  has  been  lost. 

In  the  meantime  the  addition  to  the  school  house 
had  been  erected,  consisting  of  the  two  wings  to  the 
former  central  building.  The  addition  furnished  a  resi- 
dence for  the  Principal  and  accomodations  for  15  to  20 
boarding  pupils.  After  the  completion  of  the  addition, 
the  basement  room  of  the  eastern  wing  was  used  for 
many  years  by  the  Presbyterian  congregation  as  a  Lecture 
Room,  instead  of  the  room  on  the  first  floor  of  the  original 
building. 

Many  changes  had  occurred  in  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
on  account  of  deaths,  resignations  or  removals,  and  the 
election  of  new  members.  The  Rev.  William  Browne  had 

[23] 


taken  the  place  of  Dr.  McFarland  as  President ;  and  Jos. 
A.  Waddell  having  been  elected  a  member  in  place  of  his 
father,  who  died  in  1855,  was  appointed  Secretary,  and 
has  held  that  office  continuously  to  the  present  time. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Browne  resigned  the  office  of 
Principal  in  1856,  and  removed  to  Lexington,  Kentucky. 

Mr.  Wm.  H.  Marquiss  was  the  next  Principal,  and 
the  first  to  occupy  the  addition  to  the  Seminary.  Owing 
to  the  loss  of  records,  it  is  impossible  to  state  the  date  of 
Mr.  Browne's  resignation,  and  of  Mr.  Marquiss'  election. 

Mr.  Marquiss  soon  became  dissatisfied  with  his  posi- 
tion, and  on  June  24,  1857,  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Trustees,  stating  that  his  continuance  to  hold  the  office  of 
Principal  depended  upon  the  following  conditions :  1st. 
The  completion  of  the  boarding  house,  &c.,  in  time  for 
the  next  session;  2nd.  The  estimate  the  Board  placed 
upon  his  losses,  and  their  willingness  to  give  him  remuner- 
ative advantages  for  the  future;  and  3rd,  Upon  the  Board 
securing  to  the  Seminary  the  privacy  becoming  a  female 
boarding  school.  (He  objected  to  members  of  the  con- 
gregation entering  the  gate  on  New  street,  and  passing 
immediately  in  front  of  the  Seminary,  while  going  to  and 
returning  from  church,  the  way  around  being  unpaved, 
rugged  and  often  muddy.) 

The  Trustees  replied  to  the  letter  of  Mr.  Marquiss  at 
a  meeting  held  July  4,  1857,  by  resolutions  declaring  that 
having  already  incurred  heavy  pecuniary  liabilities,  they 
did  not  find  themselves  in  a  situation  to  increase  their 
responsibilities  in  that  respect,  and  were  unable  to  extend 
more  satisfactory  arrangements  than  those  which  had 
been  already  made. 

This  response  of  the  Board  having  been  communicated 
to  Mr.  Marquiss,  he  appeared  before  the  Board  and  stated 
that  he  would  discontinue  his  connection  with  the  Semi- 
nary. 

During  the  erection  of  the  two  wings,  probably  every 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  believed  that  a  sufficient 

[24] 


amount  to  pay  the  costs  had  been  subscribed  by  friends  of 
the  school.  But  the  money  had  not  been  collected,  and  it 
required  time  to  gather  it  in.  It  was  necessary,  however, 
to  make  weekly  payments  to  the  contractor  to  keep  his 
employees  at  work.  Thereupon,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Board  it  was  proposed  that  money  be  borrowed  from  one 
of  the  Staunton  banks,  on  the  personal  credit  of  members 
who  should  sign  notes  to  be  discounted.  This  plan  was 
agreed  to,  and  six  members  signed  notes  from  time  to 
time  as  money  was  needed,  and  the  loans  thus  made  were 
kept  alive  by  renewals  for  several  years. 

The  six  members  referred  to  were,  the  Rev.  William 
Brown,  the  President,  Wm.  M.  Tate,  John  Trimble,  John 
D-  Imboden,  Davis  A.  Kayser,  and  Jos.  A.  Waddell.  Other 
members  of  the  Board  declined  or  failed  to  sign  the  notes, 
and  did  not  come  to  the  relief  of  the  six,  when  the  crisis 
arrived.  It  came  when  the  President  who  had  been  re- 
lied upon  chiefly  in  respect  to  subscriptions,  unexpectedly 
announced  that  we  need  not  depend  upon  any  subscription 
list,  and  all  that  could  be  done  was  for  the  drawers  of 
the  notes  in  Bank  to  make  their  arrangments  and  pay  up. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  21, 1857,  the  Treasurer,  Davis 
A.  Kayser,  reported  that  the  amount  due  the  Bank  for 
which  it  held  the  notes  of  six  of  the  Trustees,  was  about 
$3,221.53. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
obtain,  if  possible,  a  part  of  what  was  known  as  the 
"Shyres  fund/'  This  fund  consisted  of  a  sum  of  money 
left  by  the  will  of  an  old  woman  named  Shayres  (pro- 
nounced Shires)  to  Mr.  Samuel  Clarke  for  the  education 
of  poor  children  of  the  town.  Mr.  Clarke  had  recently 
died,  and  the  administrator  of  his  estate  sought  the  ad- 
vice of  the  Circuit  Court  for  Augusta  County  as  to  the 
disposition  of  the  money. 

The  Seminary  Trustees  asked  that  one-fourth  of  the 
fund  be  turned  over  to  them  on  condition  of  furnishing 
free  tuition  to  three  indigent  young  girls  living  in 

[25] 


Staunton.  The  plan  was  approved  by  the  Court,  and  the 
fund  was  ultimately  divided  equally  amongst  the  four  in- 
corporated schools  of  the  town,  viz  :  The  Staunton 
Academy  for  boys,  the  Augusta  Female  Seminary,  the 
Episcopal  Institute  and  the  Wesleyan  Female  Institute, 
each  receiving  the  sum  of  $1,062.13. 

The  next  meeting  of  Trustees  was  held  August  24, 
1857,  eight  members  being  present. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  John  B.  Tinsley,  late  of  States- 
ville,  N.  C.,  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Seminary,  and 
it  appears  incidentally  that  he  entered  upon  his  duties  soon 
after  his  election. 

Mr.  Tinsley  was  assisted  in  the  school  by  his  two 
daughters  and  other  competent  teachers.  His  success  for 
three  or  four  years  was  apparently  satisfactory  to  him,  he 
having  a  number  of  boarders,  and  many  day  scholars. 

At  a  meeting  on  July  10,  1858,  a  copy  of  the  decree 
of  the  Circuit  Court,  procured  June  19, 1858,  in  the  case 
of  Clarke's  administrator  vs.  The  Town  of  Staunton,  in 
the  matter  of  the  Shay  res  fund,  was  examined  and  its 
terms  and  conditions  were  accepted.  The  decree  appoint- 
ed commissioners  to  select  the  beneficiaries  of  the  fund. 
Since  the  establishment  of  Public  Free  Schools,  however, 
the  three  free  pupils  have  been  appointed  by  the  Superin- 
tendent or  Trustees  of  the  Staunton  Schools. 

The  Treasurer  was  authorized  to  receive  the  portion 
of  the  Shayres  fund  assigned  to  the  Seminary. 

At  several  subsequent  meetings  of  the  Board  the  pro- 
ceedings related  chiefly  to  the  indebtedness  of  the  Semi- 
nary, efforts  being  made  to  ascertain  the  amount,  and  to 
obtain  means  of  payment.  One  proposition  was  to  pro- 
cure from  the  congregation  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
the  transfer  of  the  fee  simple  title  to  the  Seminary  lot 
to  the  Board  of  Trustees;  or  for  authority  to  lease  the  lot 
and  buildings  for  not  less  than  twenty  years. 

On  July  13,  1860,  a  resolution  was  adopted  requiring 
the  Principal  to  pay  a  rent  of  not  more  than  $250  a  year, 

[26] 


provided  the  scheme  of  a  long  lease  should  not  be  carried 
out. 

Dispairing  of  obtaining  necessary  funds  by  general 
contributions  or  otherwise,  at  a  meeting  of  Trustees  held 
October  27,  1860,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted : 

"That  if  Messrs.  Wm.  M.  Tate,  Davis  A.  Kayser,  Jos. 
A.  Waddell,  John  D.  Imboden,  John  Trimble  and  Wm. 
Brown  will  provide  for  the  payment  of  three  thousand 
($3,000)  of  the  debt  upon  the  Seminary,  that  they  shall 
be  entitled  to  the  rents  annually  accuring  until  they  shall 
be  fully  indemnified. " 

And  at  a  meeting  held  November  10,  1860,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Treasurer  were  authorized  and  directed  to  issue 
bonds  to  the  six  members  first  named,  for  five  hundred 
dollars  each,  bearing  date  December  1,  1860,  upon  the 
said  parties  furnishing  satisfactory  evidence  of  their 
having  paid  that  amount  of  debt  due  at  that  date. 

The  bonds  were  accordingly  executed  and  delivered. 
No  rents  were  ever  actually  paid  by  any  Principal,  the 
amount  assessed  being  always  expended  in  repairs  and 
improvements. 

But  it  would  seem  that  the  Trustees  received  con- 
siderably more  money  than  the  indebtedness  of  the  Semi- 
nary required.  Thus  : 

Received  from  the  Shayres  fund  $  1,062.13 

Paid  by  six  of  the  Trustees  3,000.00 


Total  received  $  4,062.13 

Amt.  of  debt  reported  by  Trustees, 

July  11,  1859  3,221.53 


Surplus  $    840.60 

It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  debts  exceeded  the 
amount  reported  by  the  Treasurer,  as  about  the  sum  of 
$3,221.53.  All  debts,  whatever  the  amount,  were  paid, 
and  gave  no  further  trouble  (except  the  sum  due  the  six 

[27] 


trustees.)  The  general  excitement  on  account  of  the 
public  events  which  resulted  in  the  war  of  1861-5,  absorb- 
ed the  attention  of  the  Trustees,  as  well  as  all  other 
people,  and  there  never  was  any  final  investigation  or 
settlement  of  these  financial  matters. 

Mr.  Tinsley  kept  the  school  open  in  the  years  1860-1, 
1861-2  and  1862-3.  The  number  of  pupils  being  reduced, 
and  the  places  of  boarders  being  filled  by  refugees  from 
places  in  the  vicinity  of  the  contending  armies. 


[28] 


mi. 

Ht>mini0tratton  of  fl&ise  Batowtn. 


T 


HE  record  of  proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
indicate  that  no  meeting  was  held  after  Novem- 
ber 10,  1860,  till  November  16,  1867.  The 
period  of  the  war  which  intervened,  distracted 
the  attention  of  most  people,  and  moreover, 

while  the  school  was  maintained,  nothing  in 

regard  to  it  seemed  to  require  a  meeting  of  the 

Trustees. 

Between  the  dates  first  mentioned,  the  Secretary  of 

the  Board  entered  in  the  record  book  the  following 

Memorandum. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of   Trustees,  held  the 

day  of 1863,   of    which    no    record    was    made, 

Miss  Mary  J.  Baldwin  and  Miss  Agnes  R.  McClung  were 
elected  Principals  of  the  Seminary.  The  former  was 
vested  with  authority  and  full  control  over  the  school, 
the  appointment  of  teachers,  &c. ;  and  the  latter  to  have 
charge  of  the  boarding  department,  The  said  Principals 
to  make  such  arrangements  between  themselves  in  re- 
gard to  a  division  of  profits "  [if  any,  it  might  have  been 
added,  for  no  profits  were  anticipated]  "as  they  may  see 
fit.  The  question  of  rent  was  postponed  for  future  con- 
sideration, with  the  understanding  that  no  rent  was  to  be 
expected  immediately." 

The  instalment  of  Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  in  the 
Seminary  requires  a  more  particular  account  of  it. 

By  the  summer  of  1863,  every  school  in  the  town  had 
been  closed  because  of  the  distraction  of  the  war.  Mr. 
Tinsley  held  on  till  the  month  of  July  or  August,  and  then 
resigned  the  office  of  Principal,  proposing  to  remove  from 
Staunton.  Thereupon,  Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  were 

[29] 


induced  to  take  charge  of  the  school  as  joint  Principals. 

Having  been  the  first  to  suggest  this  arrangement, 
and  particularly  active  in  bringing  it  to  pass,  I  may, 
without  improperly  intruding  myself,  relate  other  facts  in 
connection  with  it,  as  it  led  to  the  foundation  of  the  school 
on  a  firm  and  permanent  basis,  and  to  the  most  unexpect- 
ed results  generally. 

Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  had  long  been  intimate- 
ly acquainted  and  were  in  most  respects,  kindred  spirits, 
earnest,  philanthropic  Christian  women. 

The  former,  much  the  older  of  the  two,  was  a  thoroughly 
trained  house-keeper,  noted  for  her  good  sense  and  kind- 
ness of  heart.  Being  thrown  out  of  employment  during 
the  early  period  of  the  war,  she  was  restive  at  being  idle 
and  dependent,  and  frequently  expressed  to  friends  near 
her,  her  desire  to  open  a  boarding  house. 

Miss  Baldwin  was  reared  in  Staunton  by  her  maternal 
grand-parents,  and  as  far  as  known  was  highly  esteemed 
for  her  mental  culture  and  spirit  of  benevolence.  Previous 
to  the  war  there  was  no  public  free  schools  in  Staunton, 
and  her  feelings  were  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  many  poor 
children  growing  up  without  an  education.  Having  a 
small  patrimony,  furnishing  her  some  means,  she  rented 
a  school  room,  and  inducing  several  young  women  to  as- 
sist her,  she  opened  a  charity  school.  She  was  the  soul 
of  the  enterprise,  and  conducted  it  successfully  for  several 
years.  I  had  been  brought  into  intimate  acquaintance 
with  her,  and  she  stated  to  me  that  if  she  survived  her 
grandmother,  with  whom  she  lived,  her  purpose  was  to 
open  a  school  for  girls,  and  devote  herself  to  teaching, 
not  merely  as  a  means  of  support,  but  of  leading  a  useful 
life.  Her  grandmother  died  early  in  the  year  1862,  and 
she  then  began  a  private  school  in  rented  premises,  which 
promised  to  be  eminently  successful. 

I  must  mention  one  fact  in  regard  to  Miss  Baldwin 
which  I  do  with  some  reluctance;  but  it  is  necessary  to 
show  the  self-abnegation  and  courage  with  which  she  dis- 

[30] 


charged  the  varied  duties  of  her  life.  While  she  was  an 
infant,  one  side  of  her  face  was  smitten  with  paralysis 
and  sadly  marred.  As  she  grew  up  to  womanhood,  she 
was  not  unconscious  of  the  disfiguration,  and  was  often 
wounded  at  discovering  that  strangers  were  gazing  at 
her  "with  the  eye  of  curiosity/7  But  it  did  not  cause  her 
to  become  misanthropic,  or  to  shrink  into  retirement. 
She  had  duties  to  God  and  her  fellow  creatures  to  dis- 
charge, and  in  spite  of  all  embarrassments  she  bravely 
sought  to  discharge  them.  While  she  at  no  period  of  her 
life  engaged  in  the  frivolous  pastimes  of  many  women,  and 
generally  appeared  to  discourage  the  particular  attention 
of  gentlemen,  she  mingled  freely  with  her  own  sex,  and 
early  became  a  leader  in  every  good  work.  At  home 
among  familiar  friends,  the  disfiguration  of  her  face  was 
hardly  thought  of.  It  excited  no  pity,  but  rather  enhanced 
the  general  admiration  of  her  character.  One  side  of 
her  face  was  comely,  and  her  figure  was  tall  and  well  pro- 
portioned. No  woman  in  the  community  was  more  ad- 
mired and  loved. 

Under  the  circumstances  related,  Miss  McClung  wish- 
ing to  keep  a  boarding  house,  and  Miss  Baldwin  to  con- 
duct a  school,  in  anticipation  of  Mr.  Tinsley's  retirement, 
I  suggested  to  each  of  them  separately,  that  they  take 
charge  of  the  Seminary.  They  were  surprised  and  ridi- 
culed the  proposition.  I,  however,  persevered  in  urging 
the  scheme.  I  said  to  Miss  Baldwin  that  I  had  noticed 
for  years  her  success  in  teaching  a  class  in  Sunday  School, 
and  was  satisfied  that  she  had  a  peculiar  talent  in  teach- 
ing and  managing  girls.  There  was  no  doubt  as  to  Miss 
McClung's  ability  to  manage  the  department  suggested 
for  her.  They  gradually  became  accustomed  to  the  ar- 
rangement, and  without  further  consultation  with  them, 
immediately  after  Mr.  Tinsley's  resignation,  they  were 
elected  by  the  Trustees,  and  submitted  to  what  seemed  to 
be  inevitable.  They  had  no  opposition — no  one  else 
would  at  that  time  have  accepted  the  position.  I  had 

[31] 


ventured  to  predict  that  they  would  have  twenty  boarders, 
as  many  as  the  buildings  would  comfortably  accommodate, 
and  these  with  day  pupils  would  furnish  them  the  means 
of  support  and  of  usefulness. 

An  advertisement  was  put  out  that  the  school  would 
open  on  the  1st  day  of  October.  The  Seminary  was  al- 
most entirely  unfurnished,  and  each  of  the  new  Principals 
had  only  articles  for  her  chamber.  The  supply  of  house- 
hold furniture  usually  kept  for  sale  in  Staunton  was  ex- 
hausted. Soon,  however,  one  and  another  boarding  pupil 
was  entered,  till  before  the  day  appointed  for  opening  ar- 
rived, the  full  complement  was  enrolled.  In  the  dilemma 
the  Principals  resorted  to  the  expedient  of  borrowing 
from  their  friends.  No  man  would  or  could  have  started 
under  such  circumstances  ;  but  many  persons  were  ready 
and  anxious  to  help  two  ladies  so  well  known  and  so  highly 
esteemed.  When  a  boarder  was  entered,  all  necessary 
chamber  and  table  furniture  had  to  be  borrowed— bedding, 
towels,  chairs,  dishes  and  plates,  cups  and  saucers,  knives 
and  forks,  and  the  dwellings  of  many  persons  were  stripped 
of  all  articles  that  could  be  spared.  "Confederate  cur- 
rency" was  by  that  time  greatly  depreciated,  and  there 
was  no  other;  it  was  therefore  stipulated  that  as  far  as 
possible  the  payments  for  board  and  tuition  should  be 
made  in  country  produce — flour,  corn,  meats,  butter, 
poultry,  eggs,  vegetables,  wood  for  fuel,  hay  for  a  cow, 
and  sorghum  molasses. 

The  school  opened,  according  to  advertisement,  on 
Thursday,  October  1,  1863,  with  80  pupils  of  whom  22 
were  boarders. 

Miss  McClung  was  accompained  at  the  Seminary  by 
her  venerable  mother,  whose  presence  there  inspired  con- 
fidence that  pupils  would  be  safe  and  well  cared  for. 
Mrs.  McClung  was  widely  known,  especially  by  Presby- 
terian ministers,  as  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander  of  Princeton,  and  was  universally  admired  and 
loved  for  every  excellence  that  adorns  the  female  charac- 

T32] 


ter.    She  survived  for  some  years,  and  during  her  life 
the  young  pupils  of  the  Seminary  nestled  around  her. 

Miss  Baldwin  was  fortunate  in  obtaining  at  the  outset 
some  accomplished  assistant  teachers.  One  of  them  was 
Miss  Eliza  Howard,  a  sister-in-law  of  Dr.  McGuifey,  Pro- 
fessor in  the  University  of  Virginia,  who  took  much  in- 
terest in  the  institution,  and  aided  materially  in  arranging 
the  course  of  instruction  and  the  general  plan  of  the 
school.  It  was  arranged  that  in  order  to  become  a  full 
graduate,  a  pupil  must  be  proficient  in  the  following 
studies  : 

1.  English  Literature. 

2.  History. 

3.  Mental  and  Moral  Science. 

4.  Mathematics. 

5-6  Natural  Science,  Chemistry,  &c. 

7.  Our  Ancient  Language. 

8.  Our  Modern  Language. 

Instruction  in  the  various  accomplishments  was  also 
duly  provided  for— elocution,  music,  drawing  and  paint- 
ing, &c. 

The  experiences  of  the  Seminary  during  the  war  are 
an  interesting  chapter  in  its  history,  and  we  have  a 
sprightly  account  of  them,  written  by  Miss  Augusta  Bum- 
gardner,  a  former  pupil,  and  published  in  the  Seminary 
Annual  of  1893.  Miss  Bumgardner  was  not  born  till  after 
the  war,  and  obtained  her  facts  from  others.  Her  narra- 
tion is  styled : 

The  Seminary  In   War  Times. 

'It  was  in  the  fall  of  1863,  midst  the  cannon's  roar 
and  the  tramp,  tramp  of  the  soldier  boys,  that  our  cour- 
ageous principal  started  her  bold  undertaking.  We  in  these 
latter  days  can  scarcely  appreciate  the  difficulties  attend- 
ing such  an  enterprise.  To  provide  board  and  fuel  for  so 
great  a  number  at  a  time  when  flour  sold  at  twenty-five 

[33] 


dollars  a  barrel  and  bacon  at  a  dollar  a  pound  was  a  prob- 
lemn  not  easily  solved.  All  the  long  summer  days  were 
spent  in  laying  in  supplies,  and  by  dint  of  unceasing  per- 
severance, together  with  the  aid  of  kindly  friends,  when 
autumn  returned,  a  sufficient  store  had  been  collected  to 
keep  the  wolf  from  the  door,  for  a  time  at  least.  The 
trouble,  though,  did  not  end  here.  The  provisions  were 
in  possession,  but  how  to  keep  them  ? 

"Staunton  in  those  days  was  a  great  depot  for  army 
supplies,  and  was  consequently  alive  with  soldiers  wearing 
both  the  blue  and  the  gray.  The  former's  proclivities  for 
appropriating  all  the  goods  and  chattels  of  their  Southern 
foes,  especially  the  contents  of  the  larder,  was  a  fact 
thoroughly  within  the  grasp  of  a  school  girl's  mind.  Ac- 
cordingly when  that  dread  cry,  'The  Yankees  !'  went 
forth,  down  dropped  every  book  and  out  rushed  every 
girl.  The  wood  pile,  then  just  outside  the  present  parlor 
window,  there  being  no  other  back  yard,  claimed  attention 
first,  a  soldier's  weakness  in  that  line  being  proverbial. 
The  girl  would  seize  upon  a  log  of  wood,  put  one  end  on 
each  shoulder,  and  off  they'd  go  to  deposit  it  in  the  dark 
and  hidden  precincts  of  the  cellar.  Many  hands  made 
quick  work,  and  soon  there  was  no  trace  of  a  wood  pile 
save  a  few  scattered  chips. 

'  'By  stratagem  which  would  have  rendered  a  general 
famous,  many  barrels  of  flour  had  been  procured,  and 
deep  and  anxious  were  the  debates  as  to  the  safest  hiding 
place  for  the  precious  possession.  At  the  suggestion  of  a 
bright-eyed  little  maiden,  each  girl  draped  a  barrel  in  one 
of  her  white  skirts — crinolines  were  then  in  favor— 
making  thus  a  dainty  dressing-table  for  every  room.  But 
alas  !  there  were  more  barrels  than  rooms.  Accordingly 
the  contents  of  the  remaining  ones  were  sewed  up  in  a 
tick  and  did  duty  as  a  bed.  When  the  tramp  of  the  blue 
coats  was  heard,  the  thinnest  girl  in  the  school— and  it  is 
said  she  was  the  only  thin  one— chalked  her  face  to  a 
ghastly  white  and  got  into  her  bed  of  flour.  As  Miss 

[34] 


Baldwin  ushered  a  Federal  officer  into  the  room  to  make 
the  usual  search,  this  ghastly  figure  suddenly  rose  up  in 
the  bed  as  if  awakened  from  sleep.  The  startled  officer 
backed  out  of  the  room  with  a  murmur  of  apologies  for 
disturbing  a  girl  so  ill.  The  pretty  draperies  aroused  no 
suspicions,  however,  and  the  flour  was  saved  to  furnish 
food  not  only  for  hungry  school-girls,  but  for  many  a 
wounded  soldier  lying  sick  and  suffering  in  the  hospital. 
On  another  occasion  when  the  Federal  soldiers  were  in 
the  town  the  girls  hid  hams  in  every  desk  of  the  big 
school-room,  not  our  present  chapel,  for  that  was  the 
Presbyterian  church,  but  the  present  office  and  the  ad- 
joining hall,  then  one  room— even  the  stove  had  been  du- 
ly filled,  and  there  was  just  time  for  each  girl  to  grab  a 
book  when  the  searching  party  entered.  A  studious  com- 
pany they  appeared,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  many  of 
their  books  were  upside  down.  A  little  taken  aback  that 
the  young  ladies  should  show  such  indifference  to  their 
presence,  the  soldiers  after  a  casual  glance  about  the 
room,  marched  out,  one  of  them  remarking  that  the  girls 
didn't  seem  much  afraid,  to  which  he  received  the  prompt 
reply  from  a  pert  little  miss  near  the  door,  "What's  you 
to  be  afraid  of?" 

"Yet  not  always  were  their  little  schemes  so  success- 
ful, as  when  some  of  the  girls  attempted  to  roll  a  barrel 
of  sorghum  up  the  dining-room  stairs  and  the  head  came 
out !  They  had  this  consolation,  however,  if  they  could 
not  eat  that  sorghum  neither  could  the  Yankees. 

"A  favorite  plan,  when  there  was  something  valuable 
to  be  saved,  was  for  the  principal  to  show  the  search  offi- 
cers about;  ushering  them  graciously  into  rooms  and  halls, 
up  stairs  and  down,  in  and  out;  she  took  them  through 
the  endless  maze  of  crooks  and  turns,  until  the  poor  men 
were  completely  bewildered  and  went  off  not  a  whit  wiser 
for  their  pains,  and  at  one  time  leaving  a  dozen 
barrels  of  flour  in  the  hall  where  they  had  not  been  taken. 

[35] 


"Among  other  things  there  was  a  scarcity  (and  I  be- 
lieve there  has  never  been  an  abundance)  of  men  in  the 
Seminary — in  fact  not  a  single  being  of  the  male  persua- 
tion  dwelt  within  these  walls.  As  a  consequence,  numerous 
apparitions,  always  clothed  in  male  attire,  were  seen,  and 
many  were  the  mid-night  processions  of  white-robed 
figures  that  marched  down  the  dark  gallery  armed  with 
pokers,  tongs,  shovels  and  other  offensive  and  defensive 
weapons,  in  search  of  the  dreadful  man,  who  was  never 
found  but  once.  That  once  marks  the  epoch  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  Seminary.  The  usual  cry  of  'A  man  !  a 
man  !'  had  been  given,  and  the  usual  procession  of 
trembling  girls,  with  Miss  Baldwin  at  their  head,  was  ad- 
vancing down  the  gallery,  when  there,  crouched  against 
the  fence,  oh  horror  of  horrors  !  was  a  man.  The  crisis 
had  come,  but  our  principal,  ever  equal  to  an  emergency, 
drew  herself  up,  banishing  her  poker,  and  in  thrilling 
tones  exclaimed,  'If  you  don't  go  away  I'll  shoot  you.' 
The  terrified  man  made  a  wild  leap  for  life  and  was  lost  to 
view  over  the  fence.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  very  little 
sleep  was  in  store  for  the  frightened  girls  that  night,  and 
the  kind  old  'Grandmother/  Mrs.  McClung,  had  her 
hands  full  to  soothe  their  fears,  for,  as  if  there  was  pro- 
tection in  her  gentle  presence,  they  had  all  gathered  into 
her  room,  spreading  their  cots  upon  the  floor.  This  was 
their  haven  of  refuge  in  times  of  trouble;  whenever  the 
Yankees  were  in  town  here  they  fled  and  here  they  staid, 
sometimes  as  many  as  thirty  in  the  room,  until  perchance 
Jackson  would  come  marching  down  the  valley;  then  the 
blue-coats  went  fast  enough.  And  what  good  times  fol- 
lowed !  such  a  singing  and  playing,  practising  up  for  the 
soiree  that  was  always  given  to  our  own  soldiers. 

'  'How  those  girlish  hearts  beat  at  the  entrance  of 
the  gallant  lads  in  gray,  whose  tarnished  braid  and  bat- 
tered buttons  seemed  far  brighter  in  their  eyes  than  all 
the  gilded  glory  of  the  blue.  Thus  with  a  never  failing 
fund  of  cheerfulness,  the  girls  bore  their  deprivations,  en- 

[36] 


joying  on  that  account  their  little  diversions  two-fold,  and 
the  years  rolled  pleasantly  away. 

4  'Friends,  as  I  have  said,  were  very  kind  and  sent 
contributions  of  every  sort.  The  dinner  table  presented 
a  queer  appearance,  set  as  it  was  with  odds  and  ends 
gathered  from  everywhere,  no  two  cups  and  saucers  alike, 
here  a  kitchen  knife  and  there  a  silver  one,  while  a  state- 
ly cut-glass  goblet  was  arrayed  along  side  of  a  heavy 
china  mug;  but  young  appetites  are  not  fastidious,  and  our 
girls  grew  strong  and  hearty,  no  matter  if  butter  and 
gravy  never  appeared  at  the  same  meal,  or  if  their  coffee 
was  made  from  rye  and  sweetened  with  sorghum.  Some- 
times their  contributions  from  kind  friends  proved  white 
elephants.  As  for  instance,  one  day  while  Miss  Baldwin 
was  busy  teaching  a  history  lesson— she  taught  herself 
in  those  days,  eight  hours  a  day — a  loud  rap  came  to  the 
door  and  a  voice  cried  out,  "Miss,  here's  some  cakes  a 
lady  sent  yer,"  or  what  sounded  like  that.  A  hearty  clap 
greeted  this  announcement  and  all  rushed  out  of  the  door 
to  view  the  delicacies,  when,  to  their  consternation,  the 
little  urchin  opened  a  bag  and  out  crawled  several  large 
cats.  The  lady  had  sent  a  bag  of  cats,  having  heard  that 
the  rats  were  bad  in  school.  As  there  was  no  means  of 
providing  for  an  increased  household  the  cats  were  re- 
turned with  thanks. 

'  'The  furniture  of  the  rooms,  like  that  of  the  dinner- 
table,  was  collected  here  and  there,  no  two  pieces  being 
alike.  As  a  general  rule  these  little  makeshifts  gave  the 
girls  no  concern,  but  in  one  case  there  was  cause  of  dis- 
content. Human  nature,  and  especially  school  girl  nature 
does  not  change  much.  A  mirror  had  by  great  exertion 
been  procured  for  every  room  but  one,  and  the  unfortunate 
inmates  of  that  room  were  doomed  to  make  their  toilets 
without  that  very  necessary  aid.  Patience  at  last  ceased 
to  be  a  virtue,  and  with  almost  tearful  entreaty  they  beg- 
ged Miss  Baldwin  to  try  yet  once  again;  they  had  looked 
at  themselves  in  the  water  bowl  until  they  were  tired, 

[37] 


and  they  did  want  a  looking-glass.  Miss  Baldwin  set  out 
and  returned  triumphant,  bringing  the  panel  of  an  old- 
fashioned  clock  in  which  was  set  a  mirror.  A  friend  to 
whom  she  told  her  trouble  had  unearthed  it  from  the  dust 
and  cobwebs  of  her  garret.  No  plate-glass  mirror  was 
ever  received  with  such  joyful  acclamations.  Yet  with  all 
their  interruptions  and  inconveniences  these  young  girls 
steadily  trod  the  path  of  learning.  What  cared  they  if 
every  girl  in  the  arithmetic  class  did  have  a  different 
text-book,  so  long  as  they  had  teachers  capable  of  sur- 
mounting the  difficulty  ?  And  what  mattered  it  if  their 
new  pieces,  the  present  glory  of  the  music  pupil,  were 
leaves  torn  from  an  old  song-book,  so  long  as  they  were 
sung  into  the  admiring  ears  of  our  handsome  soldier 
boys  ?" 

An  incident  of  "war  times "  may  be  related  here  as  it 
is  connected  with  Miss  Baldwin  and  the  Seminary.  I  do 
not  remember  the  exact  date,  but  it  was  probably  in 
1864 — at  any  rate  it  was  "during  the  war." 

Miss  Baldwin  had,  at  the  outset  of  her  career,  pro- 
cured from  somewhere  and  by  some  means — I  do  not 
know  where  or  how — a  second-hand  piano.  But  after 
awhile  she  needed  another,  and  one  was  offered  to  her  at 
the  price  of  $800,  I  think  it  was,  in  currency,  that  is  Con- 
federate Treasury  notes  called  Confederate  money,  our 
only  medium  of  exchange.  The  instrument  was  no  doubt 
a  very  indifferent  one,  as  the  price  indicates,  the  currency 
being  at  that  time  greatly  depreciated.  But  compara- 
tively worthless  as  the  currency  was,  Miss  Baldwin  had 
little  of  it.  She,  therefore,  called  upon  me  to  sell  some- 
thing for  her  to  supply  the  needed  amount.  I  inquired 
what  she  had  to  sell,  and  she  brought  out  a  box  contain- 
ing her  papers  and  exhibited  two  coupon  bonds  of  the 
State  of  Virginia  for  $1000  each.  I  knew  that  bonds  of 
that  description,  passing  like  bank  notes  from  hand  to 
hand,  without  requiring  to  be  transferred  at  the  Treasury 
in  Richmond,  were  sought  for  by  blockade  runners,  and 

[38] 


commanded  a  high  premium.  I  therefore  said  if  she 
would  intrust  the  bonds  to  me  I  could  arrange  the  matter 
for  her,  and  she  handed  them  to  me  without  question. 

The  cashier  of  a  Staunton  bank  was  in  the  habit 
of  going  to  Richmond  every  few  weeks,  and  I  requested 
him  to  take  the  bonds  with  him  on  his  next  visit  to  the 
city,  and  exchange  them  for  registered  bonds,  to  be  issued 
in  Miss  Baldwin's  name,  on  the  best  terms  he  could 
make.  In  due  time  he  went,  and  on  his  return  brought 
with  him,  instead  of  the  $2000  coupon  bonds  payable  to 
bearer,  $3200  registered  bonds  payable  to  Miss  Baldwin, 
and  enough  currency  to  boot,  added  to  the  sum  on  hand, 
to  pay  for  the  piano.  The  latter  bonds  were  worth  as 
much,  dollar  for  dollar,  to  Miss  Baldwin  as  the  former, 
and  by  this  stroke  her  wealth  was  increased  by  more  than 
$1200.  The  $2000  thus  traded  off  were  just  one-half  of 
her  inherited  estate. 

When  the  war  ended  the  Principals  found  themselves 
in  possession  of  a  considerable  amount  of  worthless  "Con- 
federate money "  and  some  articles  of  second-hand  furni- 
ture and  musical  instruments  they  had  been  able  to  pur- 
chase. The  friends  who  had  loaned  furniture  soon  re- 
claimed the  various  articles  which  by  that  time  they  need- 
ed on  account  of  the  wear  and  tear  in  their  own  dwell- 
ings. The  Seminary  was  thus  again  left  nearly  destitute 
of  furniture.  Some  necessary  articles,  however,  were 
procured  in  Baltimore  on  credit,  and  as  means  came  in  the 
building  swere  fully  equipped. 

One  effect  of  the  war  was  to  bring  the  people  of  the 
Southern  States  nearer  together  and  better  acquainted 
with  each  other.  By  advertising  and  otherwise,  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  Seminary  was  sent  abroad,  and  many 
pupils  from  various  Southern  States  attended  during  the 
session  of  1865-6.  From  that  time  pupils  have  been  at- 
tracted from  Northern  and  Western  as  well  as  Southern 
States.  The  fame  of  this  region  as  being  free  from 
malaria  and  other  ailments  prevalent  elsewhere,  has 

F39] 


doubtless  induce  many  pupils  to  come  here,  and  some  who 
have  come  greatly  run  down,  have  returned  home  so  in- 
vigorated that  their  parents  could  scarcely  recognize  them. 
The  health  of  the  pupils  has  always  been  remarkably 
good.  Few  cases  of  serious  sickness  have  occurred,  and 
only  three  deaths  since  the  Seminary  was  opened  for 
boarders  in  1863. 

From  the  time  Miss  Baldwin  took  charge  of  the 
school,  meetings  of  the  Trustees  were  seldom  held,  except 
to  fill  vacancies  in  the  Board  caused  by  death  or  removal. 
In  November,  1867,  the  number  of  Trustees  was  reduced 
to  seven,  and  on  the  16th  of  that  month,  at  a  meeting 
held,  eight  additional  members  were  elected. 

The  catalogue  for  the  session  of  1868-9  (the  first  that 
has  been  found)  shows  that  the  number  of  assistant 
teachers  was  13,  and  the  number  of  pupils  137,  viz:  From 
Virginia  98,  Georgia  14,  West  Virginia  7,  Alabama  6, 
Florida  2,  and  one  from  each  of  the  following  states: — 
North  Carolina,  Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Illinois 
and  Ohio. 

Among  the  assistant  teachers  appear  the  names  of 
Misses  Kate  Courtenay,  Virginia  M.  Strickler  and  Mattie 
L.  Tate,  who  were  long  connected  with  the  Seminary. 

Mention  has  heretofore  been  made  of  Miss  Eliza 
Howard  as  an  early  assistant  teacher.  She  was  after- 
wards joined  by  her  sister,  Miss  Anna  Howard.  These 
ladies  and  Miss  Courtenay  and  Miss  Charlotte  Kemper, 
who  for  many  years  did  faithful  service,  were  reared  and 
educated  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  were  accom- 
plished in  every  branch  of  teaching  taught  in  that  institu- 
tion. Miss  Kemper  is  now  a  missionary  in  Brazil. 

Miss  Strickler  entered  the  Seminary  as  a  teacher 
when  she  was  quite  young,  and  for  a  time  taught  various 
branches.  She,  however,  became  the  principal  teacher 
of  Latin,  and  probably  is  one  of  the  most  competent  and 
successful  teacher  of  that  language  in  the  whole  country. 
She  is  still  at  her  post.  Her  certificate  of  proficiency  is 
as  good  as  the  diploma  of  any  college. 

[40] 


Miss  Mattie  L.  Tate  was  the  first  head  of  the  Primary 
Department.  She  was  not  only  highly  approved  as  a 
competent  teacher,  but  was  warmly  loved  by  all  who 
knew  her.  Her  early  death  was  universally  lamented. 

During  the  spring  of  1869-70,  the  number  of  pupils 
was  152,  and  the  list  of  teachers  included  for  the  first 
time  the  names  of  Misses  L.  G.  Dunwoody  and  Nanny  L. 
Tate. 

Miss  Dunwoody 's  specialty  was  history,  and  she  was 
considered  by  her  pupils  "a  born  teacher. " 

Miss  Nanny  L.  Tate,  after  the  death  of  her  sister,  be- 
came sole  head  of  the  Primary  Department,  and  has  con- 
tinued in  that  position  to  the  present  time,  being  charged 
with  most  delicate  and  important  duties.  She  w  as  the 
first  full  graduate  of  the  Seminary. 

The  catalogue  of  1870-1,  recorded  the  names  of  20 
teachers,  and  176  pupils.  The  pupils  were  from  the  fol- 
lowing States,  viz:  Virginia  88,  Georgia  28,  Alabama  17, 
Louisiana  6,  Tennessee  6,  Texas  5,  Illinois  4,  Florida  4, 
West  Virginia  4,  South  Carolina  3,  District  of  Columbia 
2,  and  one  each  from  North  Carolina,  Mississippi  and 
England. 

The  Trustees  were  still  perplexed  in  regard  to  debts, 
and  the  want  of  means  to  pay  them,  as  well  as  for  making 
repairs  to  the  buildings.  On  March  16,  1871,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  confer  with  Misses  McClung  and  Bald- 
win in  reference  to  a  sale  to  them  of  all  the  rights  and 
interests  of  the  Board  in  the  buildings  and  grounds  of 
the  Seminary;  and  that  failing,  to  appropriate  the  annual 
rent,  previously  fixed  at  $250,  to  the  cost  of  re-roofing 
the  buildings  and  other  repairs.  A  sale  was  not  affected, 
and  doubtless  the  Principals  expended  the  rents  as  indi- 
cated. 

The  late  Judge  L.  P.  Thompson  having  died,  Misses 
McClung  and  Baldwin  purchased  from  his  executors  a 
part  of  the  lot  belonging  to  his  estate,  adjacent  to  the 
church  and  Seminary  grounds,  on  the  north  side,  and  ex- 

[41] 


tending  from  New  Street  on  the  west  to  Market  Street  on 
the  east.  On  this  strip  of  land,  the  Principals  erected 
the  large  brick  house  fronting  on  New  Street  and  the  tall 
frame  house  near  the  east  end  of  the  lot.  The  former  is 
known  as  the  " Brick  House "  and  the  latter  as  "Sky- 
High."  This  lot  and  buildings  on  it  were  of  course  the 
private  property  of  the  purchasers. 

As  soon  as  Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  began  to  ac- 
quire some  property,  consisting  at  first  of  household 
furniture  and  many  valuable  musical  instruments,  they 
entered  into  an  agreement  in  regard  to  the  division  and 
ownership  of  the  property  as  between  themselves.  It 
was  agreed  that  Miss  Baldwin,  as  the  younger,  more  ac- 
tive and  more  responsible  of  the  two,  should  have  two- 
thirds  and  Miss  McClung  one-third  of  all  profits  and 
property  acquired  by  them  jointly.  This  was  regarded 
by  Miss  McClung  and  her  immediate  friends  as  just  and 
proper. 

The  Presbyterian  congregation  having  become  too 
large  for  the  old  house  of  worship  determined  to  build  a 
new  and  larger  church  on  the  lot  on  the  south  side  of 
Frederick  street  and  fronting  the  Seminary,  which  had 
been  purchased  and  donated  for  the  purpose  by  Misses 
McClung  and  Baldwin.  The  work  was  begun  in  July, 
1870,  and  in  December,  1871,  the  congregation  began  to 
worship  in  the  basement  of  the  new  building. 

It  was  generally  understood  by  common  consent,  that 
the  old  church  building  was  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Semi- 
nary and  remodled  for  its  use.  Without  waiting  for  any 
formal  action  of  the  congregation,  whose  Trustees  held 
the  legal  title  to  the  old  church  ground  and  buildings,  in- 
cluding the  Seminary  buildings,  the  Principals,  encouraged 
by  several  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  immediate- 
ly set  to  work  to  prepare  the  house  for  school  purposes. 
The  roof  was  taken  off  and  the  walls  were  raised  so  as  to 
provide  a  third  story  and  chapel  and  general  school  room; 
the  second  story  was  divided  into  dormitories;  and  the  first 

[42] 


floor  converted  into  a  dining  room,  kitchen,  &c.  These 
changes  involved  the  expenditure  of  a  large  sum  of 
money,  paid  by  the  Principals.  It  had  been  contemplated 
and  promised  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary,  after  ob- 
taining title  from  the  Trustees  of  the  church,  should  exe- 
cute a  deed  of  trust  on  the  property  to  secure  the  Princi- 
pals the  amount  of  their  outlay.  This  plan  was  unsatis- 
factory to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  While 
he  knew  that  neither  of  the  Principals  would  ever  pur- 
posely permit  the  alienation  of  the  property  and  its  di- 
version from  Seminary  purposes,  that  result  might  fol- 
low if  they  departed  this  life  without  leaving  wills,  the 
Trustees  having  no  means  of  redeeming  the  property. 
Miss  McClung  was  profoundly  indifferent  to  the  whole 
matter,  and  the  Secretary  suggested  to  Miss  Baldwin  to 
take  a  long  lease  of  the  property,  free  of  rent,  instead  of 
a  trust  deed.  She  readily  agreed  to  this  proposition,  be- 
ing willing  for  any  arrangement  having  a  show  of  fair 
dealing  with  her  and  her  associate. 

Thereupon  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  having 
authorized  their  Trustees  to  convey  the  old  church  proper- 
ty to  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary,  and  the  necessary 
judicial  authority  for  the  transfer  having  been  obtained, 
on  Wednesday,  February  26,  1873,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board  presented  to  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  that 
day,  a  deed  executed  by  the  Trustees  of  the  church,  dated 
November  1,  1872,  conveying  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Semi- 
nary the  real  estate  on  the  north  side  of  Frederick  street 
and  between  New  and  Market  streets,  pursuant  to  the  de- 
cree of  the  Circuit  Court  for  Augusta  County  at  June 
term,  1872.  The  deed  was  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  re- 
corded in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  Hustings  Court  of 
Staunton.  It  provided  that  a  majority  of  the  Trustees 
should  always  be  members  of  the  church  making  the  deed. 
The  consideration  was  nominal.  No  money  was  paid,  and 
the  Trustees  as  such  had  no  money  to  expend  for  any  pur- 
pose. For  the  first  time,  however,  they  became  the 

[43] 


legal  owners  of  real  estate,  and  indeed  of  any  property. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  Secretary  presented  the 
draftjof  a  deed  of  lease  of  the  real  estate  belonging  to 
the  Seminary,  to  Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  for  the 
term  of  twenty  years,  beginning  August  1,  1871,  in  con- 
sideration of  costly  improvements  made  by  them.  This 
deed  was  approved  and  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the 
grantees  for  recordation.  It  contained  various  stipulations 
in  regard  to  loss  by  fire,  &c. ,  which  need  not  be  copied 
here. 

But  the  record  of  proceedings  says  further:  "It  is 
understood  by  the  Board  that  said  deed  makes  no  pro- 
vision for  the  payment  of  certain  debts  due  from  the 
Seminary  to  Wm.  M.  Tate,  Davis  A.  Kayser,  Jos.  A. 
Waddell  and  John  Trimble  for  money  advanced  by  them 
($500  each)  in  1860,  for  the  building  of  the  Seminary,  it 
being  understood  that  said  debts  have  been,  and  are  to 
be,  cancelled  and  given  up  by  the  parties  to  whom  they 
are  due." 

As  stated  heretofore,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Browne  was  one 
of  the  six  members  of  the  Board  who  paid  $500  each,  in 
1860;  but  in  consideration  of  his  circumstances,  Misses 
McClung  and  Baldwin  refunded  to  him  the  greater  part 
of  his  claim. 

John  D.  Imboden,  another  of  the  six,  had  borrowed 
the  money  from  Mr.  William  Guthrie  with  which  to  pay 
his  quota,  and  executed  his  bond  to  Mr.  Guthrie  for 
the  amount,  with  Wm.  M.  Tate  as  security.  Gen.  Im- 
boden had  become  insolvent  when  the  final  arrangement 
was  made,  and  his  obligation  to  Mr.  Guthrie  was  still  un- 
paid and  binding  on  Maj.  Tate.  It  was,  however,  thought 
unreasonable  that  Maj.  Tate  should  not  only  pay  his  $500 
(which  he  did)  but  also  Gen.  Imboden 's  quota.  The 
matter  having  been  represented  to  Mr.  Guthrie,  he  gener- 
ously abated  a  considerable  part  of  his  demand,  and 
Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin  paid  the  remainder. 

[44] 


Mr.  Trimble  gave  his  $500  bond  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  but,  as  far  as  I  know,  it  was  never  paid. 

The  Trustees  felt  relieved  of  responsibility  by  their 
lease  of  the  Seminary  to  the  Principals,  thus  ridding 
themselves,  or  the  institution,  of  debt,  and  as  long  as 
Miss  Baldwin  survived,  they  had  little  to  do,  except  as 
stated,  to  meet  occasionally  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  Board. 
The  members  present  at  the  meeting  on  February  26, 
1873,  were:  John  Wayt,  President,  Jos.  A.  Waddell,  Secre- 
tary, Rev.  Patterson  Fletcher,  Rev.  W.  E.  Baker,  Wm.  M. 
Tate,  Wm.  Frazier,  (who  had  been  re-elected  after  his  re- 
turn to  Staunton) ,  Davis  A.  Kayser,  John  K.  Woods,  and 
Wm.  J.  Nelson.  Gen.  Robert  D.  Lilly  was  elected  a 
member  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Alexander  H.  Taylor. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  there  was  no  Treasurer,  the 
Trustees  having  no  funds,  and  not  expecting  any. 

In  the  catalogue  of  1873-4,  the  name  of  Miss  Ella  C. 
Weimar  appeared  for  the  first  time  as  a  teacher.  The 
number  of  pupils  that  year  was  216. 

During  the  spring  of  1874-5,  Mr.  F.  W.  Hamer,  who 
previously  had  taught  German,  became  the  principal 
teacher  of  instrumental  music,  and  has  continued  in  that 
position  to  the  present  time,  having  sustained  himself  as 
an  accomplished  musician  and  faithful  teacher.  The 
number  of  pupils  was  204.  After  this,  for  a  number  of 
years,  the  names  of  pupils  were  arranged  in  classes,  or 
schools,  every  name  being  repeated  several  times,  so  that 
the  total  number  at  each  session  cannot  be  ascertained 
without  more  trouble  than  the  compiler  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  take.  The  number  varied  somewhat,  but  the 
patronage  of  the  school  continued  liberal,  and  some  years 
applications  for  board  and  tuition  were  declined  for  want 
of  room. 

Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin,  finding  themselves  in 
possession  of  necessary  means,  purchased  the  remainder, 
and  much  the  larger  part  of  the  Thompson  lot.  The 

[45] 


stately  old  dwelling  house  on  the  lot,  now  called  '  'Hill 
Top,"  was  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  Seminary,  and  af- 
forded eight  or  ten  additional  dormitories. 

They  afterwards  acquired  a  house  and  lot  on  the  east 
side  of  Market  street,  between  Frederick  and  Beverley 
streets,  which  afterwards  fell  to  the  lot  of  Miss  McClung. 

Nothing  of  special  interest  in  connection  with  the 
Seminary  occurred  for  several  years,  but  in  1880,  a  calam- 
ity fell  upon  the  institution. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  1880,  Miss  Agnes  R.  McClung 
departed  this  life,  after  a  short  illness,  to  the  great  grief 
of  all  her  acquaintances.  Her  death  was  to  Miss  Bald- 
win, as  she  declared,  the  greatest  affliction  of  her  life, 
and  her  loss  to  the  Seminary  was  irreparable.  To  Miss  Bald- 
win she  had  been  a  sympathetic  and  safe  counsellor,  and 
so  unerring  was  her  judgment  that  Miss  Baldwin  asserted 
that  she  had  never  failed  to  follow  her  advice  that  she 
did  not  regret  it.  The  boarding  pupils  with  whom,  chief- 
ly, Miss  Agnes  had  to  do,  were  won  by  her  kindness  and 
unselfish  efforts  to  promote  their  welfare  and  happiness. 
Yet  she  was  a  rigid  diciplinarian,  encouraging  no  insubor- 
dination or  deception.  Her  influence  in  the  Seminary  was 
most  beneficent. 

Miss  Agnes,  as  she  was  generally  called,  left  by  will, 
to  Miss  Baldwin,  all  her  interest  in  the  personal  property 
acquired  by  them  jointly,  consisting  of  the  entire  equip- 
ment of  the  Seminary.  Her  interest  in  the  first  part  of 
the  Thompson  lot  she  devised  to  Miss  Baldwin  for  life, 
with  remainder  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary. 

Miss  Susan  H.  Heiskell,  a  lady  of  refined  manners, 
Miss  Baldwin's  aunt,  to  some  extent  filled  the  vacancy 
caused  by  Miss  McClung's  death;  and  finally,  Mrs.  Ella 
Hamilton,  after  occupying  several  minor  positions,  became 
matron  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  creditably 
to  herself  and  usefully  to  the  inmates  of  the  Seminary. 
Mrs.  Hamilton's  worthy  successor  is  Miss  Shawen,  the 
present  matron. 

[46] 


In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  lease,  Miss  Bald- 
win became,  at  the  death  of  Miss  McClung,  sole  lessee 
and  principal. 

To  people  generally,  Miss  Baldwin  appeared  perfect- 
ly self-reliant,  but  she  often  sought  the  advice  of  a  few 
confidential  friends.  Her  feelings  were  very  sensitive;  to 
dismiss  a  teacher  who  had  proved  inefficient,  although  a 
worthy  person,  caused  her  much  distress;  and  the  mis- 
conduct of  an  insubordinate  pupil  who  had  to  be  returned 
home,  was  an  acute  affliction  to  her.  However,  she 
sometimes  received  ungracious  treatment  from  persons 
who  had  been  recipients  of  her  kindness.  On  one  oc- 
casion I  found  her  greatly  distressed,  another  affliction 
had  occurred — I  do  not  remember  what— she  said, 
"People  think  me  very  strong  and  stern— they  little  know 
how  I  suffer,"  and  the  tears  flowed  down  her  cheeks. 
Touched  with  sympathy  for  her,  I  urged  her  to  retire  from 
her  position,  but  she  said,  '  'No,  too  many  persons  are 
benefited  by  my  continuing  here  and  I  must  remain. " 
After  this  interview  she  went  forth  apparently  strong  and 
brave  to  bear  her  burdens. 

She  did  not  waste  her  income  or  resources,  but  she 
did  not  seek  to  hoard  for  her  own  gratification.  Her  am- 
bition was  to  endow  and  perpetuate  the  Seminary.  At 
the  same  time,  however,  she  was  liberal  to  a  fault  in  her 
contributions  to  religious  and  benevolent  causes  and  to 
many  individuals.  She  furnished  board  and  tuition  to 
many  worthy  pupils  free  of  charge. 

Meetings  of  the  Trustees  were  held  in  1881, 1885, 1887 
and  1889  only  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  Board. 

Finding  the  need  of  an  Assistant  Principal,  Miss 
Baldwin,  in  1889,  obtained  the  services  of  Miss  Ella 
Weimar,  who  continued  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
office  most  efficiently  during  the  remainder  of  Miss  Bald- 
win's life.  Soon  afterwards  she  employed  Mr.  W.  W. 
King  as  secretary  and  general  assistant,  who  proved  effi- 

'     [47] 


cient  and  useful  in  a  high  decree.  He  also  continued  in 
his  office  till  Miss  Baldwin's  death. 

The  twenty  year's  lease  to  Misses  McClung  and  Bald- 
win expired  August  1,  1891,  but  Miss  Baldwin  continued 
to  occupy  the  premises  and  conduct  the  school  as  previous- 
ly. No  change  was  thought  of. 

Miss  Sarah  E.  Wright,  daughter  of  a  missionary  and 
born  in  Persia,  was  for  eleven  years  the  accomplished  and 
enthusiastic  teacher  of  English  Literature.  In  her  hands 
the  course  was  greatly  extended,  and  became  as  extensive 
and  thorough  as  in  most  of  the  colleges  in  the  country. 
To  train  her  pupils  in  English  composition,  she  issued  a 
magazine  annually,  composed  of  contributions  by  her 
class.  This  Annual  for  May  1893,  contains  an  article  by 
Misses  Ethel  Gibbs  and  Sadie  Anderson,  which  gives  some 
hints  as  to  the  internal  affairs  of  the  Seminary.  The 
mention  in  it  of  various  teachers  and  pupils,  and  even 
of  apartments,  is  somewhat  interesting,  and  I  make  the 
following  extracts  from  it.  It  is  styled 

'  'Reminiscences' ' 

"Miss  Nannie  L.  Tate  now  occupies  the  lower  floor  of 
'New  House, '  and  the  partitions  of  the  first  three  rooms 
having  been  removed  she  has  a  much  larger  and  lighter 
room.  The  Calisthenic  Hall  is  now  given  up  to  'mail  calP 
and  dancing  with  the  exception  of  a  few  classes  in  the 
morning.  Elocution  and  Calisthenics  are  taught  in  the 
new  Gymnasium,  which  has  been  added  to  the  upper  side 
of  'New  House. '  The  addition  is  carried  up  to  the  third 
story,  in  this  way  making  the  studio  much  larger  and  add- 
ing four  new  rooms  to  'Sky  High. '  This  aerie  is  now 
well  protected  by  three  teachers  instead  of  one.  Miss 
Wright  still  has  her  same  room  in  the  south-east  end. 
Miss  Fairchild  (teacher  of  drawing  and  painting)  occupies 
the  eastern  corner  of  the  new  part,  and  Miss  Metz 
(teacher  of  Modern  Languages)  the  room  west.  Miss 
Weimar  has  Miss  Fairchild 's  old  room  in  the  lower  story, 

[48] 


Miss  W's  room  being  given  up  to  girls— only  to  good  ones, 
however,  as  the  street  is  so  temptingly  near. 

"In  '91  Mile.  Jacot  went  to  Norfolk.  Her  place  was 
supplied  during  the  spring  of  '91  and  '92  by  Madame 
Garvier,  whose  memory  is  still  dear  both  as  a  thorough 
teacher  and  a  kind  friend.  She  added  to  her  French 
work  lectures  on  physiology  which  were  interesting  as 
well  as  instructive.  Unfortunately,  on  her  return  from 
Europe  last  September,  she  was  quarantined  on  board  the 
Normania,  and  after  so  long  a  delay  in  the  midst  of 
cholera  did  not  return  to  the  Seminary  for  fear  of  bring- 
ing to  us  the  dreaded  disease.  At  the  French  table  now 
presides  Mile.  Metz,  who  has  successfully  carried  on  the 
classes,  and  thanks  to  Madam's  thorough  beginning  last 
year  she  has  been  able  to  keep  up  the  compositions— a 
new  task  to  the  French  girls.  *  *  *  * 

"Miss  Douglas  has  been  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Darrow, 
a  former  graduate  of  the  Seminary,  both  in  music  and  in 
the  literary  department,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Crawford, 
who  is  so  tenderly  remembered  by  many  of  the  old 
girls.  ***** 

"When  Mr.  Lane  died  in  Brazil  in  March  of  '92,  (how 
well  we  remember  his  pleasant  talks !)  Miss  Baldwin  in- 
vited Mrs.  Lane  to  make  her  home  with  us,  and  she,  with 
her  two  daughters,  occupy  Miss  Douglas'  room  in  Birch 
House.  When  we  look  back  on  the  past  years  we  wonder 
how  things  went  on  without  Mrs.  Lane,  who  is  now  at 
every  turn  with  an  encouraging  word  for  the  downcast 
and  a  tender  and  sympathetic  one  for  the  sick  and 
sorrowful.  *  *  *  * 

"Alas  !  how  many  of  those  we  have  known  and  loved 
have  gone  to  the  upper  home.  There  is  Mary  Woods  who 
was  with  us  in  school  but  a  few  months,  left  us  before 
Christmas  and  died  in  February;  Dr.  McFarland  (pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church),  whom  we  have  learned  to 
love  as  a  personal  friend. 

"Miss  Mattoon,  whom  we  all  remember  so  pleasantly, 

[49] 


left  us  in  '88,  and  with  her  usual  enthusiasm  over  all  good 
works,  she  is  now  much  interested  in  missions.  On  ac- 
count of  ill  health  she  cannot  offer  herself  to  go  to  foreign 
lands,  but  she  is  doing  what  she  can  at  home. 

"Miss  Haughwout  was  here  from  '88  until  '92,  and  no 
heart  but  felt  a  pang  of  regret  at  her  departure.  None 
but  pleasant  memories  are  connected  with  her,  and  her 
beautiful  soirees  came  before  us  as  oases  in  the  desert  of 
Seminary  life;  and  though  we  go,  it  will  be  good  to  know 
that  she  is  back  again  in  her  old  place,  for  here  she  is  to 
return  next  September.  Elocution  has  this  year  been 
taught  by  Miss  Roberts,  whom  'to  know  is  to  love'  and  to 
whom  the  Seminary  is  not  new,  as  she  was  here  some 
years  ago. 

'  'Miss  Riddle  is  back  again  after  a  year  of  rest.  Past 
times  live  to  us  in  the  inspiration  and  delight  of  her 
teaching.  Miss  Firor,  who  took  her  place,  is,  we  hear, 
living  with  her  sister  in  Catlettsburg. 

"It  is  to  Miss  Williamson  that  we  now  call  when  we 
are  in  trouble  on  Chapel  Hall  (for  Miss  Riddle  has  moved 
to  Little  Chapel  Hall)  and  it  is  Miss  Williamson  who  sup- 
presses undue  excitement  there,  who  takes  us  to  our 
dressmakers  and  is  our  stand-by  and  our  friend  on  all  oc- 
casions. 

'  'Mr.  Thompson',  (the  night  watchman)  whose  side 
blanket  was  so  gracefully  scolloped  for  the  sakes  of  the 
girls'  'memories,'  no  longer  escorts  timid  maidens  to 
'Hill  Top'  with  his  'Yes  Miss'  and  'To  be  sure,  Miss,'  but 
the  Seminary  now-a-days  is  guarded  from  all  intruders  by 
Mr.  Lickliter,  whose  dignity  is  so  imposing  that  we  pass 
him  by  in  silent  awe. 

'  'Many  have  come  and  gone  in  six  years,  and  many 
faces  are  lost  in  the  maze,  but  some,  by  their  prominence 
while  here,  still  retain  prominence  in  the  memory.  As 
faithful  workers  at  the  Library  table  we  remember  Vir- 
ginia Lucas  and  Sue  Stribling,  whose  work  was  always 
remarked,  for  they  carried  off  all  the  honors.  Some 

[50] 


names  are  still  mentioned  in  the  class  for  the  excellence 
of  the  work  they  did,  and  the  new  girls  are  likely  to  think 
*  there  were  giants  in  those  days'  as  they  hear  of  Jacqui- 
len  Epes  and  Edna  Baer,  of  Elizabeth  McMillan  and 
Fannie  Ogier.  Roselle  Mercier's  wit  is  missed,  but  we 
hear  of  it  as  charming  others.  Lucille  Foster  no  longer 
graces  our  stage  with  her  beautiful  recitations,  nor  does 
Fannie  Colbert's  familiar  voice  resound  through  the 
Chapel.  But  'Aunt  Sarah'  is  still  on  the  back  gallery  and 
willing  to  tell  you  that  'Maybe  Miss  Baldwin's  in  the 
office,  or  if  she  aint  there  she's  in  her  room,  or  maybe 
she's  gone  down  street.'  'Uncle  Ches.,'  too  feeble  to 
look  after  'Miss  Mary's  things,'  any  more,  is  living  with 
his  daughter  in  Staunton. 

"Six  years  is  a  long  Seminary  life.  Does  life  always 
get  dearer  as  it  grows  older  ?  Can  any  one  give  it  up 
without  casting  one  longing,  lingering  look  behind  ?  Like 
every  other  girl  who  comes  in  September,  we  were  sure 
by  November  that  nothing  would  tempt  us  to  return. 
Yet  six  returning  Septembers  has  found  us  more  glad  to 
come  back  to  the  sheltering  home  and  kind  friends  we 
have  made  here.  *  *  *  * 

"We  leave  dear  faces  and  warm  friends.  'Who  will 
ever  give  us  more  pleasant  cheers  than  Mr.  King,  or 
nicer  counsel  than  Mr.  Murray  ?  Who  will  ever  set  us 
such  an  example  of  beautiful  self-sacrifice  as  Mrs. 
Williamson,  of  unflinching  devotion  to  duty  as  Miss 
Weimar,  of  persistent  work  as  all  our  teachers,  of  triumph 
over  difficulties  as  our  dear  Principal  ?  Where  will  the 
hills  be  bluer,  the  grass  be  greener,  the  songs  of  the 
birds  be  sweeter,  or  the  fall  of  water  more  musical  than 
just  here  at  the  Seminary  ?" 

The  well  known  Rev.  Dr.  W.  T.  Richardson  occupied 
the  chairs  of  Mental  and  Moral  Science  and  acted  as 
chaplain  during  several  years.  His  gentle  wife,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Richardson,  taught  History  at  the  same  time.  She 
died  at  the  Seminary. 

[51] 


Dr.  Richardson  was  succeeded  after  an  interval  by 
Mr.  John  Murray. 

Mrs.  Ann  Magill,  an  accomplished  lady,  and  her 
cultured  daughter,  Miss  Mary  Tucker  Magill,  widely 
known  as  an  author,  were  for  some  time  connected  with 
the  Seminary.  The  former  filled  various  positions  with 
great  acceptance,  and  the  latter  taught  Elocution. 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  soon  after  Miss  Bald- 
win took  charge  of  the  school,  Mrs.  Anna  Brown  Fultz, 
an  eminent  musician,  taught  vocal  music  with  marked 
success.  One  of  her  pupils  and  successors  in  that  line, 
Mrs.  Mary  Crawford  Darrow,  was  equally  esteemed  as  a 
vocalist. 

Misses  Sallie  Holliday,  Mary  L.  Mattoon  and  Martha 
D.  Riddle  did  not  enter  the  Seminary  as  teachers  and  did 
not  come  at  the  same  time;  but  being  alike  in  their  general 
characters,  I  class  them  together.  All  of  them  were  and 
are  (for  they  are  still  living,  and  long  may  they  live !) 
highly  competent  and  most  conscientious  teachers,  and 
their  influence  in  the  Seminary  has  been  marked  and 
benign. 

Miss  Holliday  taught  History,  and  after  leaving  the 
Seminary  was  principal  of  a  school  in  Missouri. 

Miss  Mattoon,  daughter  of  a  missionary  and  born  in 
Siam,  during  her  first  connection  with  the  school,  taught 
Elocution  and  Physical  Culture.  After  an  absence  of 
some  years,  she  is  now  teacher  of  Mental  and  Moral 
Science  and  Bible  History. 

Miss  Riddle  has  long  been  the  teacher  of  History. 
Her  younger  sister,  Miss  Jennie  D.  Riddle  is  a  highly  es- 
teemed teacher  of  English  and  Mathematics. 

Among  the  teachers  at  the  Seminary  for  longer  or 
shorter  periods  were  the  following,  all  full  graduates : 
Nannie  T.  Link,  Mary  Lou  Bledsoe,  Emma  L.  Wills  and 
Kate  St.  Clair  May. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  April  13,  1895,  the 

[52] 


following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  offered  by  Jos. 
A.  Waddell  and  unamimously  adopted  : 

"Whereas,  Miss  Mary  J.  Baldwin  has  long  efficiently 
and  successfully  presided  as  Principal  of  the  Seminary, 
and  the  Trustees  desiring  to  testify  their  appreciation  of 
her  services  by  permanently  connecting  her  name  with 
the  institution,  thus  making  it  a  memorial  of  her  : 

"Resolved,  that  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  be  asked 
to  amend  the  act  passed  January  30,  1845,  by  which  the 
Trustees  were  incorporated,  so  as  to  change  the  name 
from  Augusta  Female  Seminary  to  MARY  BALDWIN  SEMI- 
NARY. 

* 'Resolved  further,  that  the  Legislature  be  also  asked 
to  amend  said  act  so  as  to  allow  the  Seminary  or  the 
Trustees  thereof  for  its  use,  to  hold  property,  real  and 
personal,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
amount  or  value. " 

The  act  was  duly  passed,  December  14,  1895,  and  in 
addition  to  the  foregoing  provided  that  the  Trustees 
might,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Principal,  confer 
degrees  or  honorary  titles  on  former  or  future  full  gradu- 
ates of  the  Seminary,  who  might  be  thought  worthy. 

Pursuant  to  the  last  mentioned  provision  of  the 
amended  act,  on  May  18,  1897,  the  degree  of  A.  M.  was 
conferred  on  the  following  graduates  :  Miss  S.  S.  Cum- 
mins of  Montana,  Miss  Carlotta  Kable  of  Virginia,  Miss 
Nettie  L.  Du  Bose  of  China,  Miss  Edna  J.  Gilkeson  of 
Virginia. 

Nothing  of  interest  in  connection  with  the  Seminary, 
that  need  be  mentioned  here,  occurred  for  several  years. 
Miss  Baldwin  had,  however,  acquired  more  valuable  real 
estate.  She  had  purchased  eight  or  ten  acres  of  land 
within  a  mile  of  the  Seminary,  and  improved  them  for  a 
large  garden  and  pasture  lots;  and  on  a  lot  at  the  corner  of 
Frederick  and  New  streets  she  erected  four  handsome 
residences.  She  also  purchased  the  house  and  lot  at  the 

[53] 


northeast  corner  of  New  and  Prospect  streets,   Staunton. 

During  the  summer  of  1890,  she  with  several  teachers 
and  pupils,  made  a  voyage  to  Europe,  and  visited  England, 
Scotland  and  parts  of  the  continent.  She  returned  home 
greatly  refreshed,  declaring  that  ten  years  had  been  added 
to  her  life.  But,  alas  !  it  was  not  long  till  persons  near 
her  discovered  that  her  health  was  impaired.  There  was 
no  discernable  disease,  but  a  general  decline;  and  early  in 
the  year  1897,  her  end  was  obviously  near  at  hand. 
During  the  morning  of  July  1,  1897,  she  died  in  her 
chamber.  This  result  had  been  long  expected,  and  caused 
no  surprise,  although  the  lamentation  was  deep  and  wide- 
spread. 

The  estimate  of  Miss  Baldwin  by  the  Trustees  is  set 
forth  in  the  following  Memorial  prepared  by  Judge  Grat- 
tan,  and  adopted  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  after 
her  death : 

"After  nearly  half  a  century  of  earnest,  faithful  and 
successful  labor,  Mary  Julia  Baldwin  passed  to  her  rest 
at  8  A.  M.  July  1,  1897,  in  the  68th  year  of  her  age. 

The  time  of  her  departure  was  appropriate.  The 
fields  around  her  native  city  were  yellow  with  the  golden 
harvest,  the  orchards  of  her  loved  Valley  laden  with 
ripening  fruit.  The  flowers  in  every  yard  and  garden  ex- 
haled incense.  A  fitting  time  for  this  faithful  life  to  end, 
for  this  mortal  to  put  on  immortality,  for  this  tired  reaper 
to  lay  down  her  well-used  sickle  and  take  up  her  golden 
harp. 

"She  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  William  D.  Baldwin 
and  Margaret  L.  Sowers.  Left  an  orphan  in  her  seventh 
year  she  was  reared  by  her  maternal  grandparents,  John 
C.  Sowers  and  his  wife,  and  while  she  was  the  recipient 
of  all  the  care  and  love  that  could  be  bestowed  upon  her 
by  these  good  people,  she  must  have  sadly  missed  a 
mother's  tenderness  and  pined  for  a  mother's  love.  May 
we  not  see  the  hand  of  a  wise  Providence  in  this,  which 
fitted  her  so  well  to  fill  the  place  of  mother  and  guide  and 

[54] 


friend  to  the  lonely  girls  who  left  their  happy  homes  to 
come  to  her  ?  She  knew  the  sorrows  of  their  hearts  and 
how  to  win  them  to  love  and  truth.  Is  there  one  of 
them  in  this  fair  land  upon  whose  ear  this  mournful  news 
shall  fall,  who  will  not  feel  a  mother's  loss  in  her  ?  Un- 
married and  childless  she  passed  away,  and  yet  in  all  the 
borders  of  this  Southland  her  daughters  will  rise  up  and 
call  her  blessed. 

"She  was  educated  at  the  Augusta  Female  Seminary, 
then  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Bailey,  and  her 
whole  life  was  spent  in  the  city  of  her  birth.  Modest  and 
retiring,  it  was  with  difficulty  she  was  induced  to  under- 
take, in  conjunction  with  Miss  Agnes  McClung,  the  con- 
duct of  the  Seminary  in  1863;  but  having  entered  upon 
her  duties  all  doubts  vanished  and  these  two,  comple- 
ments of  each  other,  moved  on  from  adventure  to  success. 
Since  1880  she  had  the  sole  conduct  of  the  school,  now 
in  honor  of  her  named,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  Mary 
Baldwin  Seminary. 

"It  is  difficult  to  analyze  the  character  of  one  so  well 
rounded.  She  was  modest  without  timidity,  tender 
without  effusion,  firm  without  severity,  kind  but  true,  her 
justice  was  nice  and  discriminating  and  so  tempered  with 
mercy  as  to  lose  its  sting.  Her  judgment  was  clear,  her 
convictions  strong,  her  faith  firm,  her  will  determined. 
She  never  strayed  from  the  paths  of  duty  to  walk  in  ways 
of  pleasure,  but  flowers  sprang  under  her  feet  and  bless- 
ings attended  her  progress.  Her  great  generosity  was 
without  ostentation,  guided  by  wisdom,  and  neither 
bounded  by  sect  nor  continent.  She  loved  her  friends 
without  dissimulation  and  never  had  an  enemy.  She  was 
oftentimes  bold  to  audacity  in  the  conduct  of  her  school, 
but  the  secret  spring  of  her  conduct  was  an  unfaltering 
faith  in  her  heavenly  Father  and  the  efficacy  of  fervent 
prayer.  An  atmosphere  of  purity  and  holiness  seemed  to 
surround  her,  which  repelled  the  coarser  things  of  the 

[55] 


world,  while  it  mellowed  and  fathomed  the  higher  and 
more  refined. 

''Her  place  in  the  hearts  of  this  people  will  never  be 

filled. 

"She  scattered  bounty  o'er  a  naked  land 

And  read  her  history  in  its  grateful  eyes, 
"Servant  of  God,  well  done." 

At  the  time  of  Miss  Baldwin's  death,  the  Board  of 
Trustees  consisted  of  the  following  members  : 

1.  Rev.  George  G.  W.  Finley,  D.  D.,    President. 

2.  Jos.  A.  Waddell,  Secretary. 

3.  Davis  A.  Kayser. 

4.  John  Echols. 

5.  James  H.  Blackley. 

6.  Newton  Wayt. 

7.  H.  St  G.  Tucker. 

8.  Charles  Grattan. 

9.  Gilbert  G.  Child. 

10.  Wm.  A.  Burke. 

11.  James  N.  McFarland. 

12.  Arista  Hoge. 

13.  Henry  D.  Peck. 

14.  Henry  A.  Walker. 

15.  Rev.  A.  M.  Fraser,  D.  D. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Trustees  after  Miss  Baldwin's 
death  was  held  July  3, 1897,  fourteen  members  of  the 
Board  being  present. 

Besides  the  adoption  of  the  memorial  heretofore 
mentioned,  resolutions  were  adopted,  setting  forth  that 
Miss  Baldwin  having  constituted  the  Trustees  by  her  last 
will  and  testament,  her  devisees  and  residuary  legatees, 
with  certain  conditions,  the  provisions  of  the  will  with 
the  conditions,  be  accepted;  that  Miss  Baldwin  having  at 
the  close  of  the  previous  session,  made  all  necessary 
arrangements  for  carrying  on  the  school  during  the  fol- 
lowing session— employing  teachers  and  other  assistants — 

[56] 


all  contracts  made  by  her  to  that  end,  be  ratified  and  con- 
firmed as  far  as  necessary  for  the  Board  to  do  so,  the 
affairs  of  the  Seminary  being  nominally  conducted  during 
the  session  by  Miss  Baldwin's  executors,  to  carry  out  her 
contracts;  and  that  an  Executive  Committee  of  five 
members  be  appointed  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the 
executors  in  the  conduct  of  the  school. 

Miss  Weimar  was  appointed  Principal  pro  tern,  and 
Mr.  W.  W.  King,  Business  Manager. 

The  Executive  Committee  appointed,  consisted  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Finley,  ex  officio,  Rev.  Dr.  Eraser,  Judge  Charles 
Grattan,  Mr.  Henry  D.  Peck,  and  Mr.  Henry  A.  Walker. 

The  Board  met  again  on  Tuesday,  August  10,  1897, 
and  resolved  that  during  the  ensuing  session,  Miss  Wei- 
mar, the  acting  Principal,  be  authorized  to  employ  teachers 
in  cases  of  vacancy,  to  fix  their  compensations,  and 
generally  to  discharge  all  the  duties  pertaining  to  the 
office  of  Principal,  referring  to  the  Executive  Committee 
in  such  cases  as  she  might  desire  its  advice;  and  that  Mr. 
King,  acting  Business  Manager,  be  authorized  to  hire 
servants  and  other  employees,  and  to  take  care  of  the 
grounds  and  other  property  of  the  Seminary. 

The  acting  Principal  and  Business  Manager  were  re- 
quired to  make  monthly  reports  to  the  Committee  of  the 
work  accomplished  by  the  teachers,  the  progress,  &c.,  of 
the  pupils,  with  suggestions  in  regard  to  the  health,  com- 
fort and  efficiency  of  teachers  and  pupils,  and  statements 
of  all  money  received  and  paid  out. 

By  her  last  will  and  testament,  Miss  Baldwin  left  an 
aggregate  of  $21,000  to  religious  objects  and  causes; 
liberal  bequests  to  relatives  and  many  personal  friends, 
and  the  remainder  of  her  personal  estate  to  the  Seminary. 
The  furniture  and  all  the  equipment  of  the  Seminary, 
were  immediately  turned  over  by  the  executors  to  the 
Trustees,  and  put  by  them  in  charge  of  Miss  Weimar  and 
Mr.  King.  There  was  no  inventory  and  appraisement  of 
this  class  of  property,  and  its  exact  value  cannot  there- 

[57] 


fore  be  stated.  It  was,  however,  worth  a  large  sum,  par- 
ticularly as  it  embraced  many  costly  musical  instruments. 
Up  to  and  including  July  27,  1904,  the  executors  have 
turned  over  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Seminary  money  and 
investments  amounting  to  $31,522.52.  Some  of  the  in- 
vestments made  by  Miss  Baldwin,  cannot  be  fully  realized, 
and  little  remains  to  be  secured  from  this  source.  A  con- 
siderable part  of  the  money  paid  to  the  Treasurer  was 
soon  expended  in  the  erection  of  a  large  and  costly  build- 
ing, as  will  hereafter  appear,  thus  reducing  the  amount 
in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer. 

The  real  estate  devised  to  the  Trustees  consisted  of 
the  Thompson  lot,  four  dwelling  houses  and  lots  on 
Frederick  and  Market  streets,  the  house  and  lot  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  New  and  Prospect  streets,  and  the 
garden  and  pasture  lots  near  town. 

The  total  value  of  the  bequests  to  the  Seminary  was 
hardly  less  than  $100,000.00. 

Mr.  Murray  was  ill  at  the  time  of  Miss  Baldwin's 
death,  and  died  greatly  lamented  soon  afterwards,  not 
having  known  of  her  departure  during  his  life.  He  was 
eminently  a  good  man,  and  a  scholar  of  superior  attain- 
ments, being  a  Master  of  Arts  of  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia. In  addition  to  his  duties  as  a  teacher,  he  acted  as 
chaplain  to  the  Seminary  for  some  years,  and  was  general- 
ly burdened  with  solicitude  in  regard  to  the  religious 
welfare  of  the  pupils. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  January  25, 
1898,  the  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  made  an 
oral  report  in  regard  to  the  present  management  and  con- 
dition of  the  Seminary,  and  spoke  in  terms  of  high 
praise  of  the  administration  of  Miss  Weimar  and  Mr. 
King. 

The  Committee  also  reported  a  series  of  By-laws, 
which,  after  discussion  and  amendment,  were  adopted. 
They  provide  for  meetings  of  the  Board  at  stated  times, 
the  election  of  a  Principal  and  a  Business  Manager 

[58] 


annually  at  the  January  meeting,  to  hold  office  for  one 
year  from  the  1st  of  July  ensuing,  the  salaries  to  be  fixed 
by  the  Board;  the  election  of  an  Executive  Committeee 
annually  at  the  May  meeting  of  the  Board,  to  meet  once 
a  month,  for  the  election  of  a  Treasurer;  the  Executive 
Committee  to  audit  monthly  the  accounts  of  the  Business 
Manager,  and  of  the  Treasurer  once  a  year;  the  Principal 
to  have  the  selection  of  teachers,  the  physician  and  the 
intendant  of  the  infirmary,  and  in  cooperation  with  the 
Business  Manager  to  fix  their  salaries  or  compensation, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and 
to  have  general  control  of  the  school,  making  monthly  re- 
ports to  the  Committee  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  this 
department;  the  Business  Manager  to  select  and  engage 
all  employees  not  otherwise  mentioned  and  fix  their  com- 
pensation, to  collect  and  disburse  the  running  expenses 
of  the  school,  to  purchase  supplies  and  to  have  general 
care  of  all  real  estate  and  furniture  belonging  to  the 
Seminary;  to  make  contracts  for  repairs  and  improve- 
ments, subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, making  monthly  reports  to  the  Committee  of  all 
matters  pertaining  to  his  department. 

The  14th  By-law  provided  that  all  income  from  any 
source  whatever  over  and  above  the  running  expenses  of 
the  school  shall  be  expended  in  permanent  improvements 
of  the  property,  or  the  gratuitous  education  of  worthy 
young  ladies. 

The  Board  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  Princi- 
pal and  a  Business  Manager  for  the  year  to  begin  July  1, 
1898. 

Miss  Ella  C.  Weimar  was  nominated  for  the  office  of 
Principal,  and  the  roll  being  called  was  unanimously  elect- 
ed. 

Mr.  W.  W.  King  was  nominated  for  the  office  of 
Business  Manager,  and  in  like  manner  was  unanimously 
elected. 

Mr.  Henry  A.  Walker  was  elected  Treasurer. 

[59] 


At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  May  24,  1898,  it  was 
reported  that  the  number  of  boarding  pupils  for  the  first 
half  of  the  session  of  1897-8,  was  92,  and  of  day  pupils  90, 
total  182;  for  the  second  half  of  the  session,  boarding  94, 
day  pupils  90,  total  184. 

The  Business  Manager  reported  that  the  receipts  for 
the  year,  to  May  1,  1898,  were  $33,398.40,  and  the  dis- 
bursements $25,715.14,  leaving  in  hand  at  said  date 
$7,783.26. 

Mr.  Walker  having  been  elected  Treasurer,  declined  a 
re-appointment  on  the  Executive  Committee,  and  Mr.  Jos. 
A.  Wad  dell  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

The  prosperity  of  the  school  during  the  first  session 
after  the  death  of  Miss  Baldwin,  was  highly  encouraging 
to  all  connected  with  it. 

During  the  vacation  of  1898,  many  improvements  and 
repairs  were  made. 


[60] 


Hbmtntetratton  of  flRiss 

OUR  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  were  held 
during  the  session  of  1898-9. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  to 
the  meeting  of  January  10,  1899,  congratulated 
the  Board  upon  the  condition  of  the  Seminary 
and  the  encouraging  progress  made  under  the 
judicious  and  faithful  administration  of  the 
Principal  and  Business  Manager. 

The  number  of  pupils  at  the  date  of  the  report  was, 
boarders  105,  day  pupils  95,  total  200. 

The  Executive  Committee  was  directed  to  inquire  in 
reference  to  increased  class-room  accommodations,  and  to 
use  all  surplus  income  in  that  direction  for  any  or  all  pur- 
poses mentioned  in  By-law  fourteen. 

Miss  Weimar  was  re-elected  Principal  and  Mr.  King 
Business  Manager. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  showed  that  he  had  in 
hand,  January  1,  1899,  the  sum  of  $15,151.50,  received 
from  the  executors  of  Miss  Baldwin  and  a  small  amount 
of  interest  on  investments. 

The  plan  of  a  new  building  to  provide  many  addition- 
al dormitories,  having  been  informally  considered  for 
some  time  previous,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held 
April  13,  1899,  it  was  resolved  that  a  building  to  conform 
to  a  plan  submitted  by  an  architect  be  erected  as  soon  as 
possible.  It  was  prescribed  that  the  building  contain 
sixteen  sleeping  rooms,  with  additional  trunk  rooms  and 
lavatories,  the  walls  to  be  faced  with  buff  brick,  and 
the  whole  to  be  of  the  best  materials.  A  building  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  consisting  of  James  H.  Blackley, 
James  N.  McFarland,  Arista  Hoge  and  W.  W.  King,  to 

[61] 


select  the  site,  to  let  the  contract,  superintend  the  work 
and  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  for  necessary  funds  from 
time  to  time.  The  site  of  the  building  agreed  upon  was 
on  a  line  with  Hill  Top,  with  that  house  on  the  east  and 
New  street  on  the  west. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee,  May  26, 
1899,  stated  that  too  much  praise  could  hardly  be  given 
to  the  Principal  and  Business  Manager  for  the  diligence, 
fidelity,  tact  and  skill  with  which  they  had  conducted 
their  respective  departments  and  discharged  the  delicate 
and  difficult  duties  assigned  to  them. 

The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  during  the  session 
about  to  close  was  215,  boarders  118  and  day  pupils  97. 

The  report  of  the  Principal  stated  that  the  conduct  of 
the  pupils  had  been  commendable,  and  patrons  generally 
had  expressed  satisfaction  at  the  progress  of  their 
daughters  and  wards  and  gratification  at  the  accounts  of 
the  school  given  by  them. 

The  report  of  the  Business  Manager  stated  that  he  had 
in  hand,  May  1,  1899,  a  balance  of  $9,495.24,  out  of  which, 
however,  a  considerable  amount  of  expenses  was  pay- 
able at  the  close  of  the  current  session. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  June  9,  1899,  the 
Executive  Committee  reported  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
proposed  new  building  was  about  $11,000,  and  the  Com- 
mittee was  instructed  to  proceed  with  the  work  without 
delay. 

The  building  was  finally  completed,  but  at  a  total  cost 
of  about  $12,800,  which  was  defrayed  by  surplus  funds 
accumulated  in  the  hands  of  the  Business  Manager  and 
contributions  by  the  Treasurer. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  to  the  Board, 
October  1, 1899,  that  the  number  of  pupils  enrolled  was 
200,  of  whom  107  were  boarders.  Two  of  the  latter  had 
withdrawn,  one  19  and  the  other  27  years  of  age.  Both 
were  well- grown;  and  having  had  poor  advantages  of  edu- 

[62] 


cation  they  could  not  endure  the  mortification  of  being 
classed  with  very  young  and  small  girls. 

The  Principal  reported  that  there  was  an  increasing 
demand  for  single  beds  and  only  two  pupils  in  a  chamber; 
and  recommended  the  re-modeling  of  the  building  called 
"Sky  High,"  so  as  to  provide  additional  dormitories. 

The  recommendation  was  approved,  and  the  work  was 
speedily  accomplished. 

The  amount  expended  since  the  close  of  the  preced- 
ing session,  in  repairs  and  purchase  of  new  furniture,  was 
$2,839.08.  "These  repairs,  &c.,"  said  the  Committee, 
"have  added  largely  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  Semi- 
nary." 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  January  16, 
1900,  thirteen  members  being  present. 

The  total  enrollment  of  pupils  for  the  first  half  of 
the  session  was  212. 

The  application  and  conduct  of  the  pupils  were  com- 
mended by  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  health  of  the  pupils  has  been  exceptionally  good. 

The  buildings  were  more  comfortable  than  ever  be- 
fore. The  heating  apparatus  acted  excellently. 

"The  buildings, "  said  the  Committee,  "are  in  as  good 
condition  as  their  structure  and  age  will  possibly  permit — 
newly  painted,  papered  and  kept  perfectly  clean.  The 
improvements  in  the  chapel  heretofore  reported  have 
fully  answered  their  purpose;  and  those  in  the  dining- 
room  have  added  materially  to  the  comfort  of  all  concern- 
ed." "The  fare,"  continued  the  Committee,  "is  better 
than  ever  before,  and  under  the  skilful  and  generous 
management  of  Mr.  King  and  Mrs.  Chase,  the  table  is 
not  only  a  model  of  cleanliness  and  order,  but  is  furnish- 
ed with  the  best  the  market  and  country  affords  of  meats, 
fowls,  vegetables  and  fruits,  and  bread,  butter  and  coffee 
that  cannot  be  excelled  by  any  private  home  in  the  city." 

The  balance  of  cash  in  the  hands  of  the  Business 
Manager,  January  8,  1900,  was  $3,493.20. 

[63] 


The  Treasurer  had  received  during  the  year  1899, 
from  the  executors  of  Miss  Baldwin,  the  aggregate 
of  $6,100,  had  contributed  on  account  of  new  buildings, 
$5,480.30,  had  in  hand  on  other  investments  $15,475,  and 
had  in  cash  $539.87. 

Miss  Weimar  and  Mr.  King  were  continued  in  their 
respective  offices. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  June  10,  1900,  the 
Executive  Committee  reported  that  the  session  just  ended 
had  been  the  most  successful  for  many  years.  The  num- 
ber of  pupils  was  220,  representing  27  states.  The  health 
of  the  pupils  had  been  unusually  good. 

The  Business  Manager  recommended  many  repairs 
and  improvements,  which  he  was  authorized  to  have 
made  forthwith,  as  far  as  means  in  his  hands  and  to  be 
collected  would  admit  of. 

The  Building  Committee  was  instructed  to  have  a 
stone  wall  erected  along  the  upper  premises  of  the  Semi- 
nary on  New  street,  and  the  Treasurer  was  instructed  to 
honor  drafts  of  said  Committee  from  time  to  time  on  ac- 
count of  said  work. 

The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  at  the  beginning  of 
the  session  of  1900-1  was  203. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  October  9,  1900, 
the  Building  Committee  submitted  a  detailed  report  in  re- 
gard to  the  costs  of  the  new  building  called  ''Memorial 
Hall"  in  honor  of  Misses  McClung  and  Baldwin. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  to  the  Board  on 
January  22,  1901,  in  reference  to  various  matters:  The 
health  of  the  school  had  been  better  than  at  any  period  of 
the  present  management.  Miss  Hopkins,  teacher  of  vo- 
cal music,  had  a  severe  attack  of  grippe  while  at  her 
home,  and  was  absent  from  the  school  for  two  months. 
Till  her  return  her  place  was  supplied  by  Miss  Hughes,  of 
Cincinnati. 

At  the  request  of  the  Principal,  she  was  authorized 
to  send  abroad  such  teachers  as  she  might  select,  to  ac- 

[64] 


quaint  themselves  with  methods  of  instruction  and  obtain 
any  other  useful  information.  Accordingly,  Misses 
Nanny  L.  Tate  and  Martha  D.  Riddle,  being  appointed 
for  the  purpose,  visited  a  number  of  the  most  celebrated 
schools  in  Northern  States.  They  were  well  received, 
and  every  opportunity  was  afforded  them  to  obtain  the  in- 
formation they  sought. 

The  Executive  Committee  further  stated  that  the 
health  of  the  school  had  not  given  occasion  to  tax  improved 
capacity  of  the  infirmary;  but  the  greater  comfort  of  those 
using  it  amply  justified  the  improvement. 

The  new  departure  in  the  employment  of  a  female 
teacher  of  instrumental  music  had  been  entirely  satisfac- 
tory. Miss  Leeb,  the  teacher,  had  enjoyed  large  ad- 
vantages of  instruction  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 
The  place  of  Miss  Ferine,  the  Elocution  teacher,  had  been 
satisfactorily  filled  by  Miss  Frost,  whose  reputation  was 
fully  sustained  by  her  conduct  in  the  class  and  her  per- 
formances in  the  city.  Miss  Frances  Barton  Bates,  of 
Missouri,  a  lady  of  elegant  acquirements,  was  engaged  as 
teacher  of  Literature,  and  was  abundantly  satisfying 
all  requirements,  when  family  affairs  rendered  it 
necessary  for  her  to  give  up  teaching  and  return  home. 
Her  place  was  supplied  satisfactorily  by  Miss  Spalding,  a 
graduate  of  Chicago  University.  Miss  Emerick,  a  Ger- 
man lady,  had  been  employed  to  fill  the  place  of  Miss 
Richard,  who  was  compelled  to  return  to  her  home  in 
Russia,  and  had  proved  an  admirable  teacher  of  Modern 
Languages.  Nine  pupils  had  withdrawn  since  the  be- 
ginning of  the  session;  two  of  them  had  left  without  per- 
mission from  home  or  the  Seminary,  and  their  application 
to  return  was  refused.  One  left  because  her  parents 
were  afraid  to  compel  her  to  remain;  and  another  who 
came  from  bravado  and  only  remained  a  month.  Others 
left  for  sufficient  reasons. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  May  21,  1901,  the 
privilege  of  free  tuition  was  extended  to  a  worthy  pupil, 
and  board  as  well  as  tuition  to  two  others. 

[65] 


The  21st  of  May,  1901,  was  the  occasion  of  an  in- 
teresting proceeding  at  the  Seminary.  On  that  day  a 
memorial  window  in  honor  of  Miss  Baldwin,  placed  by 
the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Seminary  in  the  Chapel 
Hall,  was  unveiled  with  suitable  ceremonies.  But  first  a 
brief  account  of  the  Association,  which  I  call  Alumm,  be- 
cause the  young  ladies  insist  upon  calling  themselves 
Masters  and  Bachelors  of  Art,  and  why  not  Alumni  in- 
stead of  Alumnae  ? 

In  the  summer  of  1893,  a  few  graduates  met  at  the 
Seminary  and  determined  to  form  an  Alumni  Association. 
A  temporary  organization  was  effected,  with  Miss  Nanny 
L.  Tate,  President,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Andrew  Hill,  Secretary, 
and  Mrs.  Nellie  Hotchkiss  McCullough,  Historian,  and 
correspondence  was  opened  with  graduates  living  at  a  dis- 
tance. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  at  the 
Seminary,  May  25,  1894,  at  which  twenty  full  graduates 
were  present.  At  this  meeting  a  constitution  was  adopt- 
ed, and  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Mrs.  Bettie 
Guy-Winston,  President;  Mrs.  C.  May  Erwin-Coleman, 
Vice  President;  Miss  Janet  K.  Woods,  Treasurer;  Miss 
Augusta  Bumgardner,  Recording  Secretary;  and  Mrs. 
Nellie  Hotchkiss  McCullough,  Corresponding  Secretary. 
By  request,  Mrs.  Anne  Woods  Sampson  represented  Miss 
Baldwin  at  the  reception  given  to  the  members.  An  ini- 
tiation fee  of  $1  was  required,  and  an  annual  contribution 
of  50  cents. 

I  cannot  define  exactly  what  the  Association  proposed 
to  do;  but  its  general  object  was  to  promote  feelings  of 
friendship  among  the  members,  and  to  foster  a  sentiment 
of  loyalty  towards  their  alma  mater.  It  was,  however, 
soon  resolved  to  found  a  scholarship  for  the  board  and 
tuition  of  a  pupil  to  be  selected  by  the  Association. 

The  Association  has  met  annually  at  the  close  of  each 
session  of  the  Seminary,  and  the  proceedings  have  been 
printed  in  a  paper  called  '  The  Record, "  which  has  con- 

[66] 


tained  many  letters  from  absent  members  and  contribu- 
tions in  prose  and  poetry,  some  of  them  showing  much 
literary  accomplishment. 

In  1901,  the  number  of  enrolled  members  was  208,  viz; 
From  Alabama  4,  Arkansas  1,  California  3,  North  Caro- 
lina 8,  South  Carolina  8,  Colorado  1,  District  of  Columbia 
7,  Florida  8,  Georgia  16,  Illinois  6,  Kansas  2,  Kentucky  8, 
Louisiana  3,  Maryland  3,  Montana  2,  Missouri  7,  Missis- 
sippi 5,  Nebraska  1,  New  York  2,  Ohio  2,  Pennsylvania  1, 
Tennessee  14,  Texas  10,  West  Virginia  4,  Missionaries  in 
Foreign  Countries  10,  Virginia  72. 

Soon  after  Miss  Baldwin's  death  the  Association  re- 
solved to  provide  a  memorial  window  in  her  honor.  The 
window  was  accordingly  procured — a  beautiful  specimen 
of  the  art — and  was  ready  for  unveiling  on  May  24,  1901. 
On  that  day,  the  Association  met  in  the  Chapel  Hall, 
many  friends,  besides  the  members,  being  present.  Mrs. 
Nellie  Hotchkiss  McCullough  presided  with  her  usual 
dignity  and  grace. 

The  Rev.  G.  W.  Finley,  D.  D.,  opened  the  proceedings 
with  prayer. 

Then  Miss  Virginia  Lucas,  of  Charlestown,  West 
Virginia,  read  a  poem  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  com- 
posed by  her. 

Next,  Mr.  Jos.  A.  Waddell,  by  request  of  the  Alumni, 
presented  the  window  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary, 
delivering  an  address  of  which  the  following  is  the  con- 
clusion, referring  to  Miss  Baldwin: 

"She  now  rests  from  her  labor,  but  she  is  not  dead  in 
this  seminary  and  in  this  community.  Before  her  de- 
parture hence,  the  trustees  performed  a  graceful  act  in 
changing,  by  legislative  authority,  the  name  of  the  semi- 
nary which  she  had  built  up  from  a  low  estate  to  its 
present  proportions,  and  calling  it  for  her. 

"This  whole  place  is  thus  her  monument.  None  of 
the  great  people  of  the  world  better  deserve  a  monument 
than  she.  But  it  is  fit  that  there  should  be  in  this  hall  a 

[67] 


special  memorial  of  her,  and,  in  behalf  of  the  alumnae,  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  the  seminary  the  win- 
dow which  will  now  be  unveiled/' 

Whereupon,  Master  Baldwin  Darrow,  a  young  kins- 
man and  namesake  of  Miss  Baldwin,  unveiled  the  window. 

The  Rev.  A.  M.  Eraser,  D.  D.,  accepted  the  window 
on  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary,  and  spoke  in 
part  as  follows  : 

'  'On  behalf  of  the  Mary  Baldwin  Seminary,  its  trus- 
tees, its  officers,  its  teachers,  its  pupils,  its  employees, 
every  one  of  whom  has  a  proprietary  interest  in  the 
memory  of  Miss  Baldwin,  I  accept  this  window  which  has 
been  placed  here  as  a  memorial  of  the  honored  woman  for 
whom  the  school  is  named.  On  behalf  of  the  city  of 
Staunton  which  feels  a  maternal  pride  in  her  most  dis- 
tinguished daughter,  I  accept  this  tribute  from  the 
alumnae,  a  noble  band  of  matrons  and  young  women, 
scattered  abroad  throughout  the  United  States  and  foreign 
lands,  makers  of  homes,  of  communities,  of  churches  and 
missionaries  of  the  cross  on  the  frontiers  of  civilization, 
who  themselves  have  been  moulded  by  the  gentle  but 
powerful  influence  of  this  great,  modest  spirit. 

4 'We  receive  the  window  as  a  monument  that  will  not 
allow  to  perish  the  memory  of  our  benefactor  and  friend. 
When  the  Israelites  passed  dry  shod  over  the  river  Jordan, 
they  erected  on  the  other  side  a  monumental  pile  of  the 
stones  they  had  gathered  in  the  dry  bed  of  the  river  that 
in  the  years  to  come  when  their  children  should  ask, 
'what  mean  ye  by  these  stones  ?'  they  might  answer,  'This 
Jordan  was  cut  off  before  the  ark  of  the  Covenant  of  the 
Lord. '  As  successive  classes  of  young  ladies  come  into 
the  institution  and  ask,  'Why  is  it  called  the  Mary  Bald- 
win Seminary  ?'  they  will  be  told  it  was  named  for  the 
woman  whose  genius  made  its  walls  to  rise  and  whose 
philanthropy  gave  it  a  permanent  endowment.  But  when 
they  enter  this  chapel  and  see  that  window,  they  will 
know  without  being  told  not  only  that  Miss  Baldwin 

T68] 


was  great  and  good,  but  also  that  there  was  a  grace  and  a 
charm  in  her  life,  because  her  pupils  loved  her  and  they 

have  risen  up  to  call  her  blessed. " 

****** 

"It  is  a  singular  fact  that  while  Miss  Baldwin's  life 
was  a  long  one,  just  one-half  of  it  was  spent  in  compara- 
tive obscurity  and  inactivity,  and  her  special  gifts  were 
not  suspected  by  herself  or  any  one  else.  We  often  hear 
one  say,  'I  am  of  no  use  in  the  world. '  Miss  Baldwin's 
life  was  a  complete  refutation  of  that  error.  At  the  age 
of  thirty-four  she  might  have  said  with  as  much  reason 
as  most  people  who  say  it:  'I  am  of  no  use  in  the  world.' 
And  yet  all  unknown  to  her  there  lay  before  her  and 
opened  to  her  a  career  of  extraordinary  usefulness  and 
renown.  Truly  'We  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring 
forth, '  and  truly  'There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men 
which  taken  at  the  flood  leads  on  to  fortune. '  At  the  foot 
of  the  window  is  the  modest  recital  that  this  window  is 
'Erected  by  the  Alumnae  Association. '  It  is  that  fact 
which  lends  its  peculiar  value  to  the  tribute.  It  would 
not  be  the  high  encomium  that  it  is  if  it  had  been  erected 
by  any  other  hands.  While  it  speaks  most  eloquently  of 
Miss  Baldwin's  worth,  it  speaks  no  less  eloquently,  though 
unconsciously,  of  that  of  the  alumnae.  It  is  because  the 
alumnae  are  what  they  are  that  we  hold  our  high  opinion 
of  Miss  Baldwin  who  made  them  what  they  are.  It  is 
because  they  appreciate  her  that  we  know  them  to  be 
what  they  are.  So  in  receiving  this  memorial  window  at 
your  hands  we  dedicate  it  to  the  double  office  of  com- 
memorating at  once  the  virtues  of  the  great  teacher  and 

those  of  her  pupils. 

****** 

"The  Good  Book  says,  'The  righteous  shall  be  held 
in  everlasting  remembrance.'  It  is  for  God  alone  to 
make  the  remembrance  of  the  righteous  'everlasting.' 
We  are  doing  what  we  can  today  to  make  it  at  least  last- 
ing. How  long  will  this  window  last  ?  Shall  it  be  fifty 

[69] 


years,  a  hundred  years,  five  hundred  years,  a  thousand 
years  ?  I  pledge  you  that  we  shall  take  it  into  sacred  keep- 
ing and  resolve  that  it  shall  outlast  everything  else  in  this 
school  except  its  name.  If  by  the  wear  and  tear  of  time 
these  walls,  which  have  already  stood  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years,  should  fall  and  it  should  become  necessary  to  build 
another  chapel,  we  will  build  it  to  fit  that  window.  If  by 
the  progress  of  invention  the  houses  we  now  use  should 
become  as  antiquated  as  cave  dwellings  are  compared 
with  them,  the  problem  for  the  future  architect  will  be  to 
build  his  structure  in  harmony  with  this  graceful  relic.  If 
by  further  progress  of  invention,  houses  may  be  dispensed 
with  and  architecture  itself  become  a  relict  of  lost  art, 
the  genius  which  works  this  transformation  in  the  modes 
of  human  living  must  also  devise  some  way  to  preserve 
what  is  dear  to  human  sentiment  and  make  some  casket 
for  this  jewel,  for  what  this  woman  hath  done  must  be 
told  for  a  memorial  of  her. 

"Again,  we  receive  the  window  as  a  suggestion,  the 
inauguration  of  a  movement,  the  first  of  a  group  of 
monuments.  Already  the  happy  thought  has  taken  root 
of  erecting  another  here  in  honor  of  the  full  graduates  of 
the  Seminary.  I  believe  I  am  in  a  position  to  say  that  when 
a  young  woman  has  mastered  the  university  course  in 
this  institutibn  and  has  enrolled  herself  among  the  full 
graduates,  she  deserves  a  monument  of  her  own  capacity 
and  the  indomitable  perseverance  and  courage  she  has 
shown  in  that  achievement. 

"We  shall  also  want  a  window  that  in  a  peculiar  sense 
shall  be  the  companion  of  this  one,  a  memorial  of  Miss 
Agnes  McClung,  whose  lofty  character  and  wide  acquaint- 
ance contributed  dignity  and  fame  to  the  undertaking 
at  the  outset,  whose  sanctified  wisdom  helped  to  build  the 
school,  whose  motherly  influence  and  sympathy  radiated 
to  the  whole  circle  of  girls  that  gathered  about  her  and  at 
her  death  bequeathed  her  earnings  to  the  endowment. 

"We  should  also  perpetuate  the  name  of  the  Rev. 

T70] 


Mr.  Bailey,  who  first  conceived  the  thought  of  founding 
the  school,  to  whose  judicious  and  faithful  labors  we 
owe  the  inception  of  it,  and  of  whom  we  have  now  no 
other  memorial  than  the  portrait  which  adorns  the  parlor 
walls/' 

The  exercises  were  closed  with  the  Recessional 
("Lest  we  Forget")  by  the  vocal  class  of  the  Seminary, 
and  the  Benediction. 

Mrs.  McCullough  was  succeeded  as  President  of  the 
Alumni  by  Mrs.  Walter  Riggs  Spratt  of  Alexandria,  and 
she  by  Mrs.  Sallie  Spears  Hicks,  of  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Seminary,  some  years  ago,  grant- 
ed to  the  Alumni  the  privilege  of  appointing  a  day 
scholar  to  be  educated  free  of  charge. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Board,  January  21,  1902,  that  4  boarding  pupils  and  7 
day  scholars  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  school  without 
charge.  The  number  of  daughters  of  ministers  at  re- 
duced rates  was  11. 

The  Treasurer  reported  the  amount  in  his  hands, 
January  16,  1902,  as  $16,389.  During  the  year  1901  he 
received  from  Miss  Baldwin's  executors  the  sum  of  $1214. 

During  the  same  year,  the  Business  Manager  collect- 
ed rents  amounting  to  $1350,  and  besides  the  rents,  had 
in  his  hands,  on  January  1,  1902,  a  balance  of  $5,752.88 
derived  from  other  sources. 

On  May  20,  1902,  the  Executive  Committee  reported 
that  the  session  of  1901-2  had  been  the  most  successful 
since  the  present  management  took  charge,  in  respect  to 
the  number,  conduct  and  progress  of  pupils,  fidelity  and 
success  of  teachers,  and  good  management  on  the  part  of 
officers.  The  number  of  boarding  pupils  was  143  and  of 
day  scholars  93.  One  pupil  had  been  dismissed  on  account 
of  her  bad  conduct.  Miss  Leeb,  teacher  of  instrumental 
music,  had  left  to  be  married,  and  her  place  was  filled  by 
Miss  Schelling. 

[71] 


The  following  new  teachers  for  the  ensuing  session 
had  been  secured  :  Miss  Jane  D.  Riddle  in  place  of  Miss 
Kate  St  C.  May,  who  had  resigned  ;  Miss  E.  L.  Parsons 
in  place  of  Miss  Hopkins,  teacher  of  vocal  music,  who 
also  had  resigned ;  Miss  Almond,  an  A.  B.  of  Columbia 
University,  New  York,  teacher  of  Natural  Sciences,  in 
place  of  Miss  Chatterton,  whose  services  were  dispensed 
with  because  she  declined  to  perform  certain  duties  re- 
quired of  her  ;  Miss  Mary  L.  Mattoon,  formerly  connected 
with  the  Seminary  and  favorably  known,  took  the  place 
of  Capt.  Kable  in  the  school  of  Mental  and  Moral  Science. 

The  salaries  of  Miss  Emerick  and  Miss  Frost  were 
increased. 

During  the  session  the  Principal  had  visited  several 
Northern  institutions  and  obtained  much  valuable  infor- 
mation. 

Certain  improvements  were  in  contemplation— a  new 
laundry,  more  and  better  music  rooms,  and  additional 
and  better  recitation  rooms. 

Memorials  of  Messrs.  D.  A.  Kayser  and  J.  Mason 
Miller,  Jr.,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who  had 
recently  departed  this  life,  were  read  and  ordered  to  be 
recorded. 

Messrs.  S.  F.  Pilson  and  J.  M.  Spotts  were  elected 
members  of  the  Board  to  fill  the  vacancies. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  June  24,  1902,  a  memo- 
rial of  Judge  Charles  Grattan,  lately  deceased,  was  re- 
ported by  Jos.  A.  Waddell,  and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  N.  Scott,  D.  D.,  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Board. 

Additions  to  the  salaries  of  the  principal  and  business 
manager  were  authorized. 

The  total  enrollment  of  pupils  during  the  session  of 
1902-3,  reported  May  19,  1903,  was  266,  including  169 
boarders. 

The  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  business  manager, 
May  1,  1903,  was  $13,902.04,  out  of  which  the  expenses  of 

[72] 


April  and  May  were  to  be  paid.  The  average  monthly 
expenses  approximated  $5,000. 

Mr.  Earner,  teacher  of  instrumental  music,  and  long 
connected  with  the  school,  was  released  from  some  of  his 
previous  duties,  and  Miss  Gleitsman,  a  graduate  of  the 
Royal  Conservatory  of  Music  of  Stuttgart,  was  engaged  as 
a  teacher. 

Miss  Topping,  a  pupil  of  the  best  teachers  in  Leipsig 
and  Berlin  was  engaged  to  take  the  place  of  Miss  Schell- 
ing,  who  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  the  failing 
health  of  her  father. 

Miss  Almond,  teacher  of  physical  sciences,  a  lady  of 
high  character  and  an  able  instructor,  would  not  return 
next  session  because  of  her  inability  to  maintain  neces- 
sary discipline. 

The  executive  committee  reported,  January  21,  1904, 
that  the  number  of  pupils  enrolled  was  266,  of  whom  184 
were  boarders.  The  capacity  of  the  buildings  had  been 
strained  to  accommodate  this  number;  the  guest  cham- 
bers, the  young  ladies'  parlors,  and  a  room  in  the  infirmary 
being  called  into  requisition,  and  even  then  there  had  to 
be  some  crowding  at  times.  Fifty-two  applications  for 
board  had  to  be  declined  because  of  lack  of  room. 

The  well  at  the  farm  had  been  completed.  The  depth 
of  the  well  was  569  feet,  and  the  cost  was  $1422.  The 
quality  of  the  water  was  excellent,  and  the  flow  from  35 
to  40  gallons  per  minute.  This  well  was  regarded  by  the 
committee  as  an  important  acquisition.  It  was  bored 
during  Miss  Baldwin's  life,  soon  after  she  purchased  the 
lots,  and  was  only  deepened  at  this  time. 

Necessary  steps  had  been  taken  to  secure  the  Lynn 
property,  at  a  cost  of  $700.  This  is  a  lot  with  a  small  ten- 
ement on  it,  across  Market  street  from  the  Seminary 
premises.  The  tenement  was  neatly  fitted  up  and  fur- 
nished so  as  to  furnish  dormitories  for  the  white  chamber 
and  dining-room  maids  employed  at  the  Seminary. 

On  May  17,  1904,  the    committee  reported  that  the 

[73] 


general  condition  of  the  school  and  work  of  the  Seminary 
had  continued  to  be  unusually  good.  The  teachers  and 
pupils  had  been  diligent  and  faithful  in  their  work  and 
little  or  no  sickness  had  occurred  among  them. 

Both  the  principal  and  business  manager  urged  the 
necessity  for  increased  facilities  in  class  rooms,  music 
rooms,  etc.,  to  relieve  the  congestion  and  consequent  in- 
convenience of  the  increased  patronage  of  the  Seminary. 
The  committee  had  under  consideration  several  plans  for 
affording  the  relief  asked  for.  One  plan  contemplated 
the  pulling  down  of  "Little  Chapel  Hall"  and  a  part  of 
"Chapel  Hall,"  and  erecting  in  their  places  a  building  to 
afford  ample  accommodations  for  class  rooms,  music 
rooms,  library,  laboratory,  and  to  give  much  needed  relief 
to  the  domestic  department  of  the  Seminary. 

Another  plan  proposed  an  addition  to  "Hill  Top," 
and  the  enlargement  of  the  "Boiler  House,"  so  as  to 
give  more  dormitories  and  a  better  laundry  room,  there- 
by affording  in  other  parts  of  the  buildings  better  ar- 
rangements for  class  and  music  rooms. 

The  former  plan  was  deemed  very  important,  but  it 
involved  greater  outlay  of  money  and  more  time  than 
could  immediately  be  given,— therefore,  the  former  plan 
was  postponed  and  the  second  was  adopted. 

A  committee  composed  of  Messrs,  Peck,  King, 
Landes,  Hoge,  Blackley  and  McFarland,  was  instructed  to 
propose  at  once  to  erect  and  furnish  the  addition  to  "Hill 
Top",  and  also  to  raise  the  roof  of  the  Boiler  House,  so  as 
to  give  a  suitable  room  for  the  laundry,  the  whole  cost  to 
be  paid  out  of  funds  in  the  hands  of  the  Business 
Manager  and  not  to  exceed  $10,000. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  June  21,  1904,  the 
Business  Manager  submitted  his  annual  statement  of  re- 
ceipts and  disbursements. 

The  balance  on  hand  June  15,  1903,  was  $9,830.76, 
and  collections  on  account  of  board  and  tuition  from  said 
date  to  June  15,  1904,  amounted  to  $68,380.84,  making  a 

[74] 


total  of  $78,211.60.  The  disbursements  during  the  same 
time  amounted  to  $60,472.56,  leaving  a  balance  in  bank, 
June  15,  1904,  of  $17,739.04.  At  the  same  date  the  un- 
collected  accounts  amounted  to  $10,541.45. 

The  amount  reported  on  hand  June  15,  1904,  derived 
from  house  rents,  not  included  in  the  foregoing,  was 
$3,174.83. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Finley,  a  resolution  was  adopted, 
requesting  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  to  prepare  a  history 
of  the  Seminary  from  its  beginning  to  the  present  time. 

The  annual  January  meeting  of  the  Trustees  was 
held  Tuesday,  January  17,  1905. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  that  the  total  en- 
rollment of  pupils  for  the  present  session  to  date  was  285, 
of  whom  193  were  boarders. 

Early  in  the  session  there  were  7  withdrawals,  of 
which  number  5  were  advised  to  leave  on  account  of  ill 
health,  and  2  left  because  they  found  the  Seminary  was 
not  a  school  for  so  called  *  'society "  pleasures. 

After  the  Christmas  holiday,  16  pupils  withdrew  for 
various  reasons;  but  these,  as  well  as  those  who  left 
earlier,  made  room  for  new  pupils  of  whom  13  had  come 
in. 

The  usual  repairs  and  refittings  to  the  buildings  were 
made  during  the  last  summer  vacation.  The  addition  to 
4 'Hill  Top"  was  completed  and  furnished  at  the  follow- 
ing outlay  : 

Hill  Top  addition,  $  7,571  73 

Furniture  for  same,  1,604  83 

Repairs  to  old  Hill  Top  building,         1,247  40 

Total  $10,423  96 

By  the  addition  to  Hill  Top  and  improvement  of  the 
old  house,  an  admirably  constructed  and  furnished 
building  was  secured,  affording  16  new  dormitories. 

The  Business  Manager  had  on  hand,  January  1,  1905, 
exclusive  of  rents,  $13,606.34.  He  had  taken  out  fire  in- 

[75] 


surance  to  the  amount  of  $53,250,  at  a  cost  of  $1597.15. 

The  amount  derived  from  rents  in  hand  January  1, 
1905,  was  $5,424.98. 

The  Executive  Committee  was  authorized  to  contract 
for  and  have  erected  a  stone  wall  along  the  front  and 
sides  of  the  grounds. 

The  Treasurer  submitted  his  annual  report  showing 
investments  of  funds  in  his  hands,  as  of  January  11, 
1905,  amounting  to  $20,575. 

Miss  Weimar  and  Mr.  King  were  re-elected  Principal 
and  Business  Manager,  respectively,  as  usual  at  the 
January  meeting. 

The  Secretary  having  reported  the  death  of  Dr.  N. 
Wayt,  a  member  of  the  Board,  since  the  last  meeting,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  report  suitable  resolutions  in 
respect  thereto. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Rawlings  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in 
the  Board. 

The  reports  of  the  Executive  Committee  quoted  in  the 
foregoing  narrative,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three, 
were  written  by  Dr.  Finley,  President  of  the  Board  and  ex- 
officio  chairman  of  the  Committee.  To  his  untiring  care 
and  business  skill  we  are  indebted  for  the  preservation  of 
much  interesting  and  valuable  information  in  respect  to 
the  Seminary. 


[76] 


IX 
Conclusion, 

Boart)  of  trustees,  Januatp  17, 1905. 

1.  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Finley,  D.  D.,  President. 

2.  Jos.  A.  Waddell,   Secretary. 

3.  Henry  A.  Walker,  Treasurer. 

4.  James  H.  Backley. 

5.  James  N.  McFarland. 

6.  Arista  Hoge. 

7.  Henry  D.  Peck. 

8.  Rev.  A.  M.  Fraser,  D.  D. 

9.  H.  St  G.  Tucker. 

10.  William  H.  Landes. 

11.  J.  M.  Quarles. 

12.  Rev.  Wm.  N.  Scott,  D.  D. 

13.  Samuel  F.  Pilson. 

14.  J.  M.  Spotts. 

15.  Dr.  J.  B.  Rawlings. 

©fficers  ant)  Ueacbers 

Session  of  1904*5 

MISS  ELLA  C.    WEIMAR, 
PRINCIPAL. 

REV.   A.  M.  FRASER,  D.  D., 
CHAPLAIN. 

HELEN  AUGUSTA  WILDER, 
ENGLISH  LANGUAGE  AND  LITERATURE. 

MARTHA  D.  RIDDLE, 
HISTORY  AND  BOTANY. 

VIRGINIA  M.    STRICKLER, 
LATIN  AND  ENGLISH  COMPOSITION. 

GRACE   ELIZA  HARDY, 
MATHEMATICS  AND  NATURAL  SCIENCES. 

MARIA  A.  E.  EMMERICH, 
FRENCH  AND  GERMAN. 

[77] 


MARY  L.   MATTOON, 
MORAL  AND  MENTAL  SCIENCE  AND    BIBLE  HISTORY. 

NANNY  L.  TATE, 

PRINCIPAL  OF  PREPARATORY   DEPARTMENT,  MATHEMATICS 
AND  ENGLISH. 

JENNIE  S.  RIDDLE, 
BESSIE  C.  LEFTWICH, 
ENGLISH  AND  MATHEMATICS. 

SARA  GREENLEAF  FROST, 
ELOCUTION  AND  PHYSICAL  CULTURE. 

LOUISE  TRACY  HULL, 
DRAWING  AND  PAINTING. 

F.   W.  HAMER, 
C.    F.  W.  EISENBERG, 
PIANO,  ORGAN  AND  HISTORY  OF  Music. 

LILA  MARCHAND, 
ENGLISH  LITERATURE. 

THOMAS   BEARDS    ORTH, 
VIOLIN,  GUITAR  AND  MANDOLIN. 

ELISE  D.    GLEITSMAN, 

MINNIE  TOPPING, 

PIANO. 

KATHARINE  S.  PARSONS, 
VOCAL  Music. 

ANNA  M.    STREIT, 
LIBRARIAN. 

HARRIET  SHAWEN, 
MATRON. 

MRS.  BETTIE  W.  CHASE, 
HOUSEKEEPER. 

MAY   V.  LAMBERT, 
INTENDANT  OF  INFIRMARY. 

DR.  H.  H.  HENKEL, 
PHYSICIAN. 

WM.  WAYT  KING, 
BUSINESS  MANAGER. 


[78] 


The  present  condition  of  the  Seminary  is  in  striking 
contrast  with  its  beginning. 

The  school  was  opened  in  the  fall  of  1842,  in  the 
upper  room  of  an  old  frame  house  at  the  south-west  corner 
of  New  street  and  Courthouse  Alley,  where  the  Eakleton 
Hotel  now  stands.  The  lower  room  of  the  house  was  the 
shop  of  a  cabinet-maker,  the  noise  of  whose  hammer  and 
saw  sometimes  disturbed  the  exercises  of  the  school. 

Now,  the  Seminary  occupies  the  sunny  slope  of  one 
of  Staunton's  great  hills,  on  a  lot  of  about  four  acres; 
fronting  on  Frederick  street,  on  the  south,  and  extending 
from  Market  street  on  the  east  to  New  street  on  the 
west.  The  grounds  are  adorned  with  trees,  shrubbery, 
flowers  and  grass,  and  afford  ample  space  for  out-door 
exercises  and  pastimes.  They  are  studded  with  large 
and  costly  buildings  which  furnish  160  apartments: 
Parlors,  Office,  Library,  Dining  Hall,  Chapel  or  General 
School-room,  Laboratory,  Gymnasium,  Swimming  Pool, 
Studio,  Infirmary,  Conservatory;  many  Class  Rooms  and 
Music  Rooms  and  a  hundred  Dormitories  all  handsomely 
furnished. 

The  Library  contains  about  3,300  volumes  of  choice 
literature,  and  the  Music  rooms  are  supplied  with  35 
pianos  and  3  organs,  all  of  first  class. 

The  garden,  less  than  a  mile  from  the  Seminary,  is 
highly  improved,  and  furnishes  an  abundant  supply  of 
fresh  vegetables  and  small  fruits,  while  the  adjacent  lots 
furnish  pasture  for  the  Seminary  cows. 

Four  handsome  dwelling  houses  devised  by  Miss 
Baldwin,  are  rented,  and  these  add  to  the  income  of 
the  school. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Bailey's  second  session,  in  1844, 
there  was  an  indebtedness  of  $38  for  rent  of  school 
room,  which  perplexed  the  Trustees  no  little.  On  June 
14,  1904,  there  was  a  balance  in  Bank  to  the  credit  of  the 
Seminary,  all  expenses  of  the  preceeding  session  paid, 

[79] 


of  $17,739.04,  besides  the  sum  of  $3,174.83,  which  had  ac- 
cumulated from  rents. 

The  little  pamphlet  issued  by  Mr.  Bailey  in  1844  bears 
the  same  relation  to  the  present  catalogue  that  the  New 
England  Primer  does  to  Webster's  Dictionary  unabridged. 

The  morning  exercises  of  the  school  are  opened  in 
the  Chapel  with  singing,  Scripture  reading  and  prayer. 
At  various  times  much  religious  interest  has  prevailed  in 
the  school,  and  many  of  the  pupils  have  become  church- 
members.  Two  of  the  most  eminent  teachers  have  gone 
as  missionaries  to  foreign  countries — Miss  Kemper,  here- 
tofore mentioned,  and  Miss  Ella  Cummins,  who  spent 
several  years  in  Mexico,  but  was  compelled  to  return  on 
account  of  impaired  health. 

Of  the  pupils  15  have  gone  on  the  same  errand.  Their 
names  and  the  scenes  of  their  labors  are  as  follows  : 

Janet  H.  Houston,  Mexico  and  Cuba. 
Fanny  Leak,  (Mrs.  Patton)  Japan. 
Carrie  Ballagh,   Japan. 
Ruth  See,  Brazil. 
Mrs.  C.  R.  Womeldorf,  Brazil. 
Mary  Leyburn,  (Mrs.  Junkin)  Korea. 
Libby  Alby,  (Mrs.  W.  F.  Bull)  Korea. 
Sophia  Peck,  (Mrs.  James  Graham)  China. 
Bessie  Smith,  (Mrs.  James  Woods)  China. 
Lottie  Witherspoon,  (Mrs.  Eugene  Bell)  Korea. 
Pauline  Du  Bose,  (Mrs.  L.  L.  Little)  China. 
Nettie  Du  Bose,  (Mrs.  W.  F.  Junkin)  China. 
Jennie  Woodrow,  (Mrs.  Woodbridge)  China. 
Nelly  Van  Lear,  (Mrs.  Webb)  China. 
Irene  Mann,  Japan. 


[80] 


Many  esteemed  teachers  and  assistants,  not  mention- 
ed heretofore,  I  take  pleasure  in  naming  here  : 

Of  instrumental  music  teachers,  besides  Messrs. 
Hamer  and  Eisenberg,  were  the  following  : 

Joel  Ettinger. 

John  Koerber. 

Carl  Hintz. 

Barthold  Meyer. 

Prof.  Hasselleff,  Modern  Languages. 

Madam  Garcia, 

Madam  Marandaz,  ' 

Madam  Hasselleff,  Art. 

Miss  Helen  Fairchild,  Art- 
Miss  Fanny  Johnston,  English  Literature. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Page,  Elocution. 

Madam  Jacot,  Modern  Languages. 

L.  C.  Therry,  Modern  Languages. 

Miss  Georgia  Ripley,  Intendant  of  Infirmary. 

Miss  Sue  Rogers, 

Mrs.  Maslin, 

Mrs.  Williamson, 

Mrs.  Dabney  Harrison,  " 

Mrs.  Points, 

Miss  Lottie  Price, 

Miss  Annie  Hodgson,     * ' 

Of  the  thousands  of  pupils  since  1863,  many  have 
obtained  certificates  of  proficiency  in  one  or  more  schools 
and  the  various  accomplishments;  but  comparatively  few 
have  received  certificates  in  the  eight  schools  so  as  to  be- 
come full  graduates. 

The  Full  Graduates  from  1866  to  1904,  inclusive, 
stated  in  the  order  of  graduation,  are  as  follows  : 

1.  Nanny  Lewis  Tate,  Virginia,  1866 

2.  Mattie  Lyle  Tate,  Virginia,  1867 

3.  Bettie  K.  Guy,  Virginia,  1867 

4.  Nannie  Gooch,  Virginia,  1868 

[81] 


5.  Nannie  Thornton,  Virginia,  1868 

6.  Esther  Baird,  Virginia,  1869 

7.  Aurelia  Brown,  Virginia,  1869 

8.  Nannie  Link,  Virginia,  1869 

9.  Lizzie  Kirkpatrick,  Virginia,  1870 

10.  Josephine  Moore,  Virginia,  1870 

11.  Nannie  McElwee,  Virginia,  1870 

12.  Flora  Welsh,  Virginia,  1870 

13.  Annie  E.  Woods,  Virginia,  1871 

14.  Lizzie  Harris,  Georgia,  1872 

15.  Mec  Mclntyre,  Georgia,  1873 

16.  Mattie  A.  Beggs,  Alabama,  1873 

17.  Mary  B.  Crawford,  Virginia,  1874 

18.  Sallie  Harman,  Virginia,  1874 

19.  Bettie  D.  Webb,  Alabama,  1874 

20.  Stuart  Slemmons,  Tennessee,  1874 

21.  Mary  L.  Estes,  Tennessee,  1874 

22.  Nellie  Hotchkiss,  Virginia,  1874 

23.  Alice  Wilson,  Virginia,  1875 

24.  Ella  Oliver,  Mississippi,  1875 

25.  Jennie  Daniel,  Virginia,  1875 

26.  Lucy  Ewing,  Virginia,  1875 

27.  Mollie  Herring,  North  Carolina,  1875 

28.  Lizzie  Wilson,  Virginia,  1875 

29.  Jennie  Gray,  Virginia,  1875 

30.  Isabel  Patrick,  Virginia,  1875 

31.  Kate  Baker,  Virginia,  1876 

32.  Nannie  Harris,  Virginia,  1876 

33.  Linda  McClure,  Virginia,  1876 

34.  Bessie  Roberts,  Georgia,  1876 

35.  Emma  L.  Wills,  Virginia,  1876 

36.  Mary  Coalter,  Virginia,  1876 

37.  Olivia  Huck,  Texas,  1876 

38.  Helen  Reid,  Virginia,  1876 

39.  Lucy  P.  Waddell,  Virginia,  1876 

40.  Leila  C.  Gunn,  Georgia,  1877 

41.  Annie  Johnston,  Georgia,  1877 

[82] 


42.  Mary  Lara,  Virginia,  1877 

43.  Mary  Blakey,  Virginia,  1878 

44.  Mary  Tapscott,  Virginia,  1878 

45.  Gertrude  Gunn,  Georgia,  1879 

46.  Sallie  M.  Spears,  W.  Virginia,  1879 

47.  Fannie  M.  Symington,  Kentucky,  1879 

48.  Flora  C.  Firor,  Kentucky,  1879 

49.  Fannie  Smith,  Virginia,  1879 

50.  Mildred  Watkins,  Virginia,  1879 

51.  Sue  Daniel,  Virginia,  1879 

52.  Etta  Donnan,  Virginia,  1880 

53.  Maria  Abert,  Mississippi,  1880 
54  MaryAldrich,  Texas,  1880 

55.  Flora  McElwee,  Virginia,  1880 

56.  Lizzie  Hill,  Georgia,  1880 

57.  Allielee  Wood,  Tennessee,  1880 

58.  Corrie  Ewing,  Virginia,  1880 

59.  Susie  Selman,  Georgia,  1880 

60.  Florence  Childress,  Texas,  1881 

61.  MaryForman,  Kentucky,  1881 

62.  Ada  Converse,  Georgia,  1882 

63.  Lida  Dunlop,  Virginia,  1882 

64.  Mary  Grattan,  Virginia,  1882 

65.  Marion  Woodrow,  South  Carolina,  1882 

66.  Kate  McCall,  South  Carolina,  1883 

67.  Lizzie  Firor,  Kentucky,  1884 

68.  Margaret  Spencer,  Texas,  1884 

69.  Estelle  Vanmeter,  West  Virginia,  1886 

70.  Minnie  Vanmeter,  West  Virginia,  1886 

71.  Catharine  A.  Paxton,  Virginia,  1887 

72.  Elizabeth  A.  Alby,  Virginia,  1888 

73.  Helen  M.  Bridges,  Maryland,  1888 

74.  Jacqueline  S.  Epps,  Virginia,  1890 

75.  Lizzie  D.  Hanger,  Virginia,  1891 

76.  S.  Brown  Stribling,  West  Virginia,       1891 

77.  Sadie  E.  Anderson,  Virginia,  1893 

78.  Carrie  P.  Bell,  Virginia,  1893 

[83] 


79.  Augusta  Bumgardner,  Virginia,  1893 

80.  Mattie  B.  Wayt,  Virginia,  1893 

81.  Mary  R.  Macatee,  Virginia,  1894 

82.  Kate  St.  Clair  May,  Virginia,  1894 

83.  Pauline  McA.  Du  Bose,  China,  1895 

84.  Nannie  W.  McFarland,  Virginia,  1896 

85.  Mary  E.  Trotter,  Virginia,  1896 

86.  Carlotta  W.  Kable,  Virginia,  1897 

87.  Edna  I.  Gilkeson,  Virginia,  1897 

88.  Nettie  L.  Du  Bose,  China,  1897 

89.  Abbie  M.  McFarland,  Virginia,  1898 

90.  Mary  S.  Berkeley,  Virginia,  1900 

91.  Mary  H.  Mcllwaine,  Virginia,  1900 

92.  Mary  Sharp  Williams,  Mississippi,  1900 

93.  Isabel  Hill  Scott,  Alabama,  1900 

94.  Nora  B.  Fraser,  Virginia,  1901 

95.  Ellen  D.  Hamilton,  Virginia,  1901 

96.  Rebecca  B.  Gilkeson,  Virginia,  1901 

97.  Celia  M.  Timber-lake,  Virginia,  1902 

98.  Margaret  H.  Kable,  Virginia,  1902 

99.  Helen  M.  Barnes,  Virginia,  1902 

100.  Mabel  W.  Leftwich,  Virginia,  1903 

101.  Janie  A.  Williams,  Mississippi,  1903 

102.  Mary  E.  Robertson,  Virginia,  1903 

103.  Lillian  Waddell  Weller,  Virginia,  1904 

For  many  years  it  has  been  the  custom  at  the  Semi- 
nary to  give  public  entertainments,  or  soirees,  several 
times  during  each  session,  at  which  there  is  much  music 
by  the  pupils,  vocal  and  instrumental,  recitations,  and  ex- 
hibitions of  physical  culture.  These  occasions  are  much 
enjoyed  by  the  pupils  and  ladies  and  gentlemen  invited 
to  attend. 

At  the  close  of  the  session,  the  last  Saturday  evening 
is  devoted  to  exercises  such  as  just  mentioned.  On  the 
ensuing  Sunday,  a  Commencement  Sermon  is  preached  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  by  a  minister  invited  to 

[84] 


officiate.  On  Monday  evening  there  is  another  musical 
entertainment ;  and  on  Tuesday  diplomas,  certificates  and 
prizes  are  distributed,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  in 
Chapel  Hall,  generally  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number 
of  spectators. 

I  cannot  close  this  compilation  without  mention  of 
Miss  Anna  M.  Streit.  In  the  list  of  officers  of  the  Semi- 
nary she  is  styled  Librarian,  and  she  does  preside  in  the 
Library ;  but  she  might  be  called  General  Assistant,  for 
she  is  the  willing  and  efficient  helper  of  all  who  need 
help. 


FINIS. 


.  :    . . '..•:/ 


History  c 


y/112998! 


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M129989 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


